University Heights Academy got a little revenge for a Friday night District 8 loss to Christian County by defeating the host Colonels 5-2 Monday night in a high school baseball game.
Courtland Gibson had a two-run single to give UHA a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The hit came after a walk and two Colonels’ errors.
The miscues continued in the top of the second for Christian County (11-10) and the Blazers made the Colonels pay again.
Jaiden Miles reached on an error then advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt. He would score as the Colonels misplayed a sacrifice bunt by Josh Pace and the Blazers led 3-0 after two innings.
Gavin Mitchell got the Colonels on the board in the bottom of the third as he yanked a Pace pitch over the left field fence to cut the lead to 3-1.
However, seventh-ranked UHA (15-3) pushed its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning as Miles singled. He eventually scored when Hayden Hunt was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Blazers scored their final run in the top of the seventh as Aiden Jones drew a walk and Miles also walked. Pace had a single and Ryan Luckey’s ground out to third scored Jones.
Christian County tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Embrey led off with a walk and Johnny Lewis had a single. Embrey scored on a fielder’s choice and the Colonels were down to their last out.
However, Blake Boehman and Mitchell walked to load the bases.
UHA’s Thomas Hallmark induced a groundout to Hunt at shortstop to end the game.
Pace picked up the pitching win, striking out five and allowing only four hits through five innings. Hallmark earned the save.
Mitchell hit a solo home run to lead the Colonels.
Andrew Mayes suffered the pitching loss, going 4 2/3 innings and striking out seven and walking five.
UHA is scheduled to play host to Paducah St. Mary at 6 p.m. today in the All “A” Sectional. Airtime is at 5:45 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
Christian County returns to action today at Lyon County.
Score by Innings:
University Heights 210 100 1 – 5 6 0
Christian County 001 000 1 – 2 5 5
WP – Pace (5 IP, 5 SO, 4 BB)
LP – Mayes (4 2/3 IP, 7 SO, 5 BB).
S – Hallmark (2 IP, 4 SO, 3 BB).
Leading Hitters: UHA – Hunt (2B), AJ Hogart (1B), Co. Gibson (1B), Miles (1B), Hallmark (1B), Pace (1B); CCHS – Boehman (1B), Mitchell (HR), Layton Lindsey (1B), Embrey (1B), Lewis (1B).
Photos by Lorie Maxwell/Sunflower Photography