The UHA Blazers used a 3-run fourth to build a 5-run advantage, but had to hold on over the final two innings to claim a 5-3 victory at Ohio County on Monday night. The Blazers have won two of three to move above .500 at 8-7, while the Eagles are headed in the other direction, dropping two-straight to slip to 9-10 overall.
UHA’s Dustin Moon opened the scoring in the top of the second, singling to score Ben Stone. The Blazers doubled the lead in the fourth, before adding 2 more runs when Dan Johnson reached on an error to allow Moon and Zach Naylor to come home.
Johnson started on the mound for the Blazers and carried a shutout into the sixth, but after a single to start the inning, Alex Reyes hit a 2-run shot to center field that cut the lead to 5-2. Johnson coaxed two ground outs to end the inning, and after the Blazers went down in order in the top of the seventh, gave way to Drew McGowan.
McGowan gave up a single to start the seventh inning, before getting the next two outs. Ohio County’s Vincent Jabczynski followed with an RBI double to cut the margin to 2, but McGowan induced a fly ball for the final out.
Johnson got the win, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits with a couple of strikeouts. Brandon Davis took the loss for the Eagles, lasting three innings while giving up 4 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits, with 5 walks and 2 strikeouts.