Christian County’s Wyatt Stevenson had another great night on the mound Friday, the problem was Paducah Tilghman’s Justin West had just a little bit better one. West limited the Colonels to just one hit as Paducah Tilghman picked up a 2-1 win at Colonel Field.
Tilghman was able to generate just enough offense in the first three innings to pick up the win, as Stevenson was untouchable for the final four innings. The Blue Tornado used five hits and one Christian County error to generate a run in the first and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. After that Stevenson completely dominated the Blue Tornado lineup.
Stevenson did not give up a hit over the final four innings, and, at one point, set down 12 consecutive batters.
On the other side, West was equally dominant. Over one stretch of the game, West set down 11 consecutive Colonels. It was a strikeout that set up Christian County’s only run of the game.
Jase Polley reached on a dropped third strike in the bottom of the 5th inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Dorian Lones over to 2nd base, Austin Fields singled scoring Lones to cut the Tilghman lead to 2-1. West then set down the next six batters to come to the plate.
The Colonels got one last chance to make something happen in the bottom of the seventh, and again it was a dropped third strike that set it up. With one out, Eric Silvy reached base when the catcher let a 3rd strike get away. Silvy advanced to second on a ground out, and then stole 3rd base.
West was also to close out the game getting Bryson Brown to go down on strikes.
Stevenson went all seven innings for Christian County, giving up two runs, one of them earned, on five hits, striking out nine, and walking two.
West picked up the win for Tilghman, going seven innings, giving up one run, on one hit, striking out 10, while walking only one.