MURFREESBORO — Friendship Christian won 2-1 over Nashville Christian, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh at in the first round of Class A State Baseball
Tournament.
Chris Hall hit a line drive to Nashville Christiancenter fielder Parker Lockhart with two outs in the seventh inning. A fielding error by Lockhart resulted in Kyle Wood scoring from second.
“It’s a heartbreaker,” Nashville Christian coach Ben Williams said. “It’s definitely a tough way to lose.”
Eagles’ pitcher Davis Fleming allowed just two hits.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from a senior pitching in maybe one of the last games he’ll ever pitch,” Williams said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
The Commanders took a 1-0 lead in the third when Fleming walked in Drew Erie, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Nashville Christian knotted things up at 1-1 following a home runby Cody Hartley in the fifth inning.
Brennan Swindoll was the winning pitcher for the Commanders. Swindoll pitched a completegame for Friendship, giving up four hits while striking out five.
“We didn’t hit the ball well, but we came out with the victory, and that’s all that matters.”
“We’ll take it anyway we can get it,” Friendship Christian coach John McNeal said. “Their kid did a great job on the mound, but we didn’t swing the bats very well. I told the guys, it doesn’t matter how it ended. It’s a win.”
Friendship Christian advances to the winner’s bracket and will play Riverside in the second round of the tournament, while Nashville Christian will face Harriman in the loser’s bracket.
