News-Times Staff
NORPHLET - During the 2018 season, Jack Smith had a penchant for picking up key hits for Junction City.
On Thursday night, he delivered again.
Smith laced an RBI single in the fifth to tie the game before he won it with a walk-off single in the seventh, as the El Dorado Drillers overcame a 4-0 deficit to top the Monroe (La.) Nationals 5-4.
Charles Hoof, a teammate of Smith’s at Junction City, opened the seventh with a double before scoring the game-winning run on Smith’s second RBI single of the game.
Prior to winning the game in dramatic fashion, the Drillers got back on even terms in the fifth.
Eli Fields led off with a double and Baylor Brumley followed with a run-scoring single to bring the Drillers (6-7-1) within a run.
Jacob Eubanks then drew a walk, and one out later, Smith tied the game with an RBI single.
After the Nationals scored two runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 4-0 lead, the Drillers began their comeback with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Tyler Martin and Tanner McLelland engineered a double steal to put a pair of runners in scoring position, and Westdan Owens followed with a two-run single to make it 4-2.
Smith and Martin were each 2-for-3 in the contest with the former also adding a walk.
Fields stole two bases and drew a walk to go with the aforementioned double, and Brumley also added two steals.
Hoof added a walk and a stolen base, and Landon Rainwater went 1-for-3 with a double to round out the Drillers’ attack.
Martin picked up the win in relief, working a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts.
Cody Lee worked 2 2/3 innings as the Drillers’ starter.
He allowed three hits and two runs with both runs being earned. He walked three and struck out one.
Brumley scattered five hits and two runs (both earned) over 3 1/3 innings in relief. He walked one and struck out two.
OILERS FALL TO MAJORS
While the Drillers were able to come from behind and win, the El Dorado Oilers had a tough evening, falling to the Monroe (La.) Majors 18-0.
The Majors scored five runs in the first to take a commanding lead en route to victory.
Jacob Boshears and Cade Schibler were each 1-for-2 to account for the Oilers’ offense.
Derek Jobe, Gage Otwell and Connor Cates did the pitching for the Oilers (6-8-1).
Both the Oilers and Drillers will be back in action on Tuesday when they play Arkansas Pulpwood in Camden in a doubleheader.