Last Thursday afternoon at Eupora felt much different than it did a year ago when the Eagles hosted Scott Central.
For one, a cold, brisk wind blew through the ballpark a night after severe thunderstorms came through the area. It was also a much different feeling for fans and players alike as last year’s game was the final game played before the pandemic took away sports for over four and a half month.
The optimism of a season to follow this game on Thursday didn’t turn to optimism on the field, however, as the Eagles squandered away some runs late and lost a lead in the final two innings of a 5-2 loss to the Rebels.
Eupora had the bases loaded in each of the sixth and seventh innings but couldn’t get a run home in either inning for the ultimate undoing. But the Eagles also didn’t play a clean brand of baseball in the sixth when they lost a 2-1 lead. Scott Central got a leadoff bunt single and three errors followed in the inning as the visitors scored four runs to take a 5-2 lead.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame and a chance to get back in it, Eupora grounded out twice leading to force outs at a plate and struck out to end the inning and leave runs off the board. They had the bases loaded again in the seventh and with two outs struck out to end the game.
Eupora threw six different pitchers in the game as Ty Murphy started followed by Cade Adkins, Jacob Collum and Parker Knight all with an inning each. Carter May threw 1.1 innings and Reed Hale finished off the final 1.2 frames. The pitchers combined to give up nine hits, walked just one batter and struck out six batters but errors played a role in losing the game.
There wasn’t enough big hits for the Eagles at the plate either, though, as Eupora had seven hits and left some opportunities on the bases. Cade Adkins had a big two-out double in the first inning and Ty Murphy gave the team a lead again in the fifth with his two-out triple but those were the only runs scored.
Murphy, Adkins and Hale all had two hits in the loss.
Eupora followed that up with the first Class 2A, Region 2 game of the year as they had a showdown with the Calhoun City Wildcats on Monday night. The two teams had a pitcher’s duel but Eupora came up short in extra innings with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss.
The defeat dropped the Eagles to 6-5 on the year and 0-1 in Region 2 play. Eupora has home games scheduled this weekend with Saltillo on Friday at 7 p.m. and West Point on Saturday at 1 p.m.
