Hannibal baseball team lets lead dwindle to one, then escapes seventh-inning jam against Clark County

KAHOKA, Mo. — The Hannibal baseball team let Clark County back in the game, but quality at-bats combined with timely pitching in the final inning gave the Pirates the cushion they needed to defeat the Indians 15-11 on Tuesday.

The Pirates led 12-6 entering the bottom of the sixth. The Indians scored five runs with two outs, the final three of which scored on three consecutive errors, to trim that lead to 12-11.

The Pirates went to work at the plate in the top of the seventh. Brody Wilson led off with a single, then Jaxon Lay reached on an error, and Cooper Scott was hit by a pitch. Reid Holliday walked with the bases loaded to bring in the first run of the inning, then Patrick Arthaud delivered a sacrifice fly to extend the Pirates’ lead to three. Alex Arthaud flew out on the next pitch, and Scott scored before Grady Webster threw out Holliday advancing to third.

The Indians loaded the bases on a single and two walks with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Pirates senior right-hander Colton Dryden induced a fielder’s choice ground ball of the bat of Gracyn Holsted then struck out Ryder Howe to end the game.

Scott went 2 for 3 and scored five of the Pirates’ 15 runs out of the leadoff spot. Lay went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and scored two runs. The Pirates (12-13) drew 13 walks and struck out six times as a team.