Bunch punctuates Blue Devils’ rally with walk-off single in victory over Hornets

QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team was the one putting together a late-inning rally this time.

Blake Bunch singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh Thursday as Blue Devils walked off with a 3-2 victory over Brown County at the QHS field. The Blue Devils lost twice earlier in the week — 4-3 to Quincy Notre Dame and 8-6 to Unity — when those teams scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning or later.

Thursday, the Blue Devils found themselves in a two-run hole after four innings.

The Hornets, who finished second in Class 1A last season, grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning when Colby Wort singled, stole second and scored when Tyce Fullerton reached on an error. In the third inning, Fullerton was hit by a pitch with one out and scored on Sam Carr’s double to right field.

The Blue Devils tied the game in the fourth as Joe Schroeder led off with a walk, took second on Bunch’s single and scored on Keaton Barry’s two-out single. Bunch then scored on Brady Lowe’s single to left field.

After Brown County stranded two runners in the top of the seventh, Quincy started the bottom of the inning with Jansen Lawson reaching on an error. Evan Sohn reached on a bunt single and Schroeder was intentionally walked. Bunch followed with his single to center field.

Bunch finished 3 for 4, while Sohn and Lowe each had two hits. Kory Fletcher pitched the first six innings for the Blue Devils, allowing one earned run and three hits while striking out four and walking three. Barry pitched the seventh to earn the victory.

Wort took the loss, allowing two earned runs and eight hits while striking out four and walking three. He also had two of the Hornets’ four hits.