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Tanner Hensley throws a pitch for Miller Grove in Thursday’s 12-5 over Saltillo. Hensley went three innings on the mound and allowed three runs. Staff photo by Tyler Lennon
Qualls goes 4 for 5
The Miller Grove Hornets traveled to Saltillo Thursday for an early season matchup. This is a rematch of their Tuesday game played in Miller Grove. The Hornets won the first matchup 13-1.
Jagger Qualls opened the game with a leadoff single to right field. Qualls was able to move up to second on a wild pitch before stealing third and coming in to score on an overthrow to give the Hornets a quick 1-0 lead. The Hornets were able to add another run in the inning on a squeeze bunt from Kagen Scott. Finally Miller Grove added a third run in the inning on an error to give them a 3-0 lead heading in to the bottom of the inning.
Andrew Redburn opened the bottom of the inning with a leadoff walk. Redburn stole second on the first pitch and stole third on the next. Qualls overthrew third base on the throw, and Redburn came in to score the first run of the day for the Lions. Hornet’s pitcher Jacob George went on to strike out a pair of batters in the inning before fielding a ground ball to get out of the inning with just allowing the one run.
The top of the second inning is when the Hornets did a huge majority of their scoring, opening the inning with four straight base runners before Saltillo recorded their first out in the inning. The Hornets went on to post six runs in the frame, boosting their lead to 9-1.
The Lions were forced to play from behind for the remainder of the game and trailed 12-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Saltillo put together a rally, getting their first three batters on base before the Hornets put Qualls in to pitch. Qualls got the final three outs while allowing just two runs, neither of which were earned, and the Hornets won the game 12-5.
George got the win for the Hornets, going four innings on the mound, allowing just two runs on three hits and a pair of walks. George struck out five batters. Qualls set the tone at the plate for Miller Grove, going 4 for 5 on the day with a double and a pair of runs batted in. Lexton Sly, Tanner Hensley and George each had multi-hit games as well.
Miller Grove is now 2-2 on the season after losing a pair of games to Honey Grove and Perrin-Whitt to start the season before wining back-to-back games against Saltillo. The Hornets will play again Tuesday, March 17 in Yantis. The game will start at 4:30 p.m.