By Staff Reports

 

AMERICUS – The struggles continue for the Americus-Sumter Baseball Team as they were throttled by the Cairo Syrupmakers 11-3 Tuesday, March 27, at Thomas Bell Stadium.

ASH starter Timothy Ethridge took the loss. He pitched seven innings and allowed 11 runs on 11 hits while striking out two.

Cairo got on the board first in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Christian McDugle hits a ground ball and reaches on an error by shortstop Kierston Harvey. This allowed Hayes Stills to score, and allowed D.J. Collins and Benji Prince to advance to third and second respectively.

Blake Touchton then grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Collins to score and giving the Syrupmakers a 2-0 lead with two outs. Ethan Godwin then singled, driving in two more runs to give Cairo a 4-0 lead. With two men on and two out, the Syrupmakers got another run when Cameron Cooper singled to center field, driving in J.T. Andrews and giving the Syrupmakers a 5-0 lead. The inning finally ended when Ethan Godwin was caught trying to steal home.

The bottom of the first started out well for the Panthers as Christian Mable led off with a walk, but Harvey struck out swinging. Then Ethridge grounded out and Brandon Alford struck out to end the bottom half of the first.

Neither team scored any runs until the top of the fourth. With a runner at second with two outs, Hayes Stills singles, driving in Ethan Godwin for Cairo’s sixth run of the game. D.J. Collins then tripled, driving in Stills. Just like that, the Syrupmakers had a 7-0 lead. Then Benji Prince singled to right field, scoring Collins and giving the Syrupmakers an 8-0 lead. Christian McDugle then singled to left field, advancing Caison Faircloth to second. Faircloth had entered the game as a courtesy runner for Prince.

After Blake Touchton drew a walk, Faircloth scored on a passed ball to give the Syrupmakers a 9-0 lead.

Americus-Sumter got their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and tow out, Christian Mable singled to left field, scoring Terrence Rush. Harvey then reached on an error, which allowed another run to score. However, Timothy Ethridge popped up to end the inning.

Neither team scored any runs until the top of the seventh, when the Syrupmakers scored two more. Slade Baggett and J.T. Andrews both drew walks. After Godwin popped up to short, Cameron Cooper singled, scoring Baggett. Charlie Bedingfield popped up to second for the second out. Dawson Humphries was brought in as a courtesy runner for Andrews. Then Stills doubled to right field, scoring Humphries for Cairo’s final run.

Americus-Sumter got another run in the bottom of the seventh. Christian Mable led off with a walk. However, Harvey and Ethridge both popped up to short, with Mable still at first. Brandon Alford singled to center field, scoring Mable. However, that would be it as Braelin Williams grounded out to short to end the game.

Cairo scored 11 runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. The Panthers scored three runs on seven hits and committed one error.

Christian Mable had the best day at the plate for the Panthers. Mable went 2-for-2, scored a run and drove in an RBI. Hayes Stills led the Cairo offense. Stills went 3-for-5, scored two runs and drove in two RBIs.