Defense Lets Down Mustangs

RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County's Jake Wood was out when he tried to score before Springdale Har-Ber pitcher Madison Bates could apply a tag after an overthow to the plate. Har-Ber rallied late to claim an 8-7 win Friday in Springdale.
RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County's Jake Wood was out when he tried to score before Springdale Har-Ber pitcher Madison Bates could apply a tag after an overthow to the plate. Har-Ber rallied late to claim an 8-7 win Friday in Springdale.

Evidently not only can hitting go into a slump -- so can defense.

McDonald County committed five errors, good for six unearned runs, to allow Springdale Har-Ber to rally for an 8-7 win Friday at Tyson Park in Springdale, Ark.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half, but gave up two unearned runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fifth before Har-Ber scored two runs on three hits in the sixth to erase a 7-6 deficit.

Trenton Frazier started for McDonald County, allowing six unearned runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked just one. Chance Lemm took the loss, allowing both Springdale runs in the sixth.

McDonald County took a 3-0 lead in the first. Cooper Underwood and Frazier received back-to-back walks to open the game. Cooper Dill singled to load the bases before Jake Wood drove in the first run with a single. Emitt Dalton followed with the Mustangs' third walk of the inning to force in a run. Dakota Stites grounded out to drive in the final run of the frame.

Evan Acuff led off the second with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Dagan Stites and scored on a wild pitch. Frazier then walked for the second time and scored on a single by Jaime Hanke.

After Har-Ber cut the lead to 5-3 with two runs in the second and one in the third, the Mustangs stretched the margin to 7-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Underwood singled with one out and scored on Frazier's double. Frazier scored the Mustangs' final run on Wood's second RBI hit of the game.

Wood and Underwood each had two hits to lead McDonald County's offense while Frazier, Dill, Hanke and Acuff each had one hit.

The loss drops the Mustangs to 8-9 entering their April 22 game at MCHS when the Mustangs hosted Commerce, Okla. McDonald County's April 21 game against Cassville was postponed due to rain. A make-up date has not been announced.

Rogers Heritage

A day earlier, the Mustangs committed six errors to help Rogers Heritage claim an 11-1 win. Mark Hull took the loss for McDonald County, allowing 11 runs, six earned, on 15 hits in five innings.

The War Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first when McDonald County committed four errors and were never threatened the rest of the way. The Mustangs' lone run came in the fourth on a hit by Wood, a walk to Trevor Young and hit by pitches by Hanke and Acuff.

McDonald County finished with four hits, one each by Underwood, Frazier, Wood and Dagan Stites.

Sports on 04/24/2014