A trio of pitchers collaborated on a three-hitter, and Gabe Richard and Braden Doherty each drove in a pair of runs, as the El Dorado Oilers downed the El Dorado Drillers 5-2 Tuesday at Junction City.
The squads were originally scheduled to play against Arkansas Pulpwood Tuesday in a doubleheader in games that were to serve as the semifinals of the Crossett Tournament, which was halted on the final day due to rain.
But after Arkansas Pulpwood forfeited their games, the Oilers and Drillers met in the finals.
Josh Saulsbury upped his record to 2-0 after allowing two runs over 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits, didn’t issue any walks and struck out three.
Baylor Brumley followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of work out of the bullpen. He walked one and struck out four while allowing no hits.
Tanner McLelland needed only 10 pitches to work a scoreless seventh with one walk for his first save.
The Oilers gave Saulsbury all the run support he would need in the first.
McLelland opened the frame by lacing a double down the left-field line, but Drillers starter A.J. Alsobrook retired the next two batters on ground outs.
However, the Oilers grabbed the lead with a pair of two-out hits.
Rhett Richardson opened the scoring with a single to right-center to bring home McLelland.
Richardson then stole second and went to third on a passed ball.
Saulsbury drew a walk and stole second to put runners at second and third, and Richard followed with a two-run single to left to give the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
The Oilers extended their lead in the third.
Chase Brumley drew a one-out walk, stole second and took third on a wild pitch.
Baylor Brumley followed with a walk and stole second to put runners at second and third, and Doherty laced a two-run single to center on a 1-2 pitch to make it 5-0.
The Drillers dented the scoreboard with two runs in the fourth.
Demarcus Young got the rally started with a base hit down the left-field line.
One out later, Shadarious Plummer lined a double to left-center to put runners at second and third.
Hunter Lawrence then delivered a two-run single to pull the Drillers within 5-2, but the Oilers’ bullpen kept the Drillers in check the rest of the way.
Alsobrook took the loss, dropping his record to 2-1. In three innings of work, he allowed three hits, walked four and struck out one.
Of the five runs he allowed, only two were earned.
Jamison Dumas worked a scoreless inning in relief, allowing one hit and two walks. He didn’t record any strikeouts.
Sam York threw two scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
McLelland went 2-for-3 with a double and one run scored for the Oilers, while Richard and Doherty each added a stolen base in addition to their two-run singles.
Richardson was 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI, while Jackson Cook and Jordan Brock were each 1-for-2 with Cook adding a double and Brock tallying a stolen base to round out the Oilers’ attack.
Lawrence had a walk and a stolen base to go along with his two-run single in the fourth to pace the Drillers.
Young was 1-for-2 with one run scored, Plummer was 1-for-2 with a double and one run scored and Alsobrook had a walk and two stolen bases.
The Oilers (10-5) will host the Ashley County Timber Rattlers in a doubleheader tonight at Junction City. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
The Drillers (10-8-1) will be idle until Monday when they head to Sheridan for a doubleheader in zone play. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.