Post Photo by Chris Siers Starting pitcher Preston Gentry delivers a first-inning strike against Shelbyville on Thursday night. He went three innings on the mound for the Rockets.
Post Photo by Chris Siers Short stop Paxton Mealer comes up firing a throw to first for the out in the first inning.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
SHELBYVILLE — Having trailed 5-0 at one point in Thursday night’s non-district tilt at Shelbyville, Forrest (2-3) got a strong effort in relief from Tyler Baxter, tied the game in the seventh to force extra innings, but ultimately fell, 7-6, on a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Early on, it looked like the Eagles might cruise to even the series between the two schools, following the four-run third inning by Shelbyville (3-5) to take a 5-0 lead over the Rockets.
Following big third inning, Forrest led off the fourth with a a double to left and then scored off a Brennan Mealer RBI single.
The Rockets added a second run of the inning on a Shelbyville error, allowing Mealer to score.
Although Shelbyville tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Rockets went back to work and Carter Walk drove home another run in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for the dramatic seventh.
Trailing Shelbyville 6-3 entering the top of the seventh, Baxter connected on a one-out RBI single to right, and later scored off another RBI single by Mealer.
The tying run eventually crossed when Kason Fuller reached on another Eagle error, allowing Mealer to score the tying run.
Despite Shelbyville connecting on a pair of one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, relief pitcher Tyler Baxter punched out the final two Shelbyville batters of the inning to force extras.
The Rockets then put the winning-run aboard in the top of the eighth via error, but Eagle reliever William Bobo sat down the following three Rocket batters.
Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Bobo laced the two-out, game-winning RBI single to center field to split the series with the Rockets.
Baxter led the Rockets at the plate with a 3-for-4 night and a double, while Mealer was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Preston Gentry got the start and pitched three innings for Forrest before Baxter took over and pitched the final 4 2/3 innings.
Baxter turned in a fine performance, allowing just one earned run on five hits, while striking out seven.
Forrest is back on its home field on Friday, hosting Summertown for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Forrest 000 201 30 — 6 9 2
Shelbyville 014 100 01 — 7 11 3
Forrest: Tyler Baxter 3-for-4, Brennan Mealer 2-for-4, Preston Gentry 1-for-3, Cater Walk 2-for-4, Luke Allen 1-for-4.
WP: W. Bobo
LP: Gentry
