An eight-run fourth inning proved to be too much for the Salina Stockade, but the truth is that Tucson Saguaros dominated this contest from the very start, prevailing 13-7. A four-run first combined with the big frame helped Tucson to jump out to a 13-0 lead before finishing off the contest. The Saguaros recorded just eight hits but took advantage of 11 walks. Cody Earl earned his first victory of the season.

The Saguaros jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Christopher Eusay and Thomas DeBonville led off with back-to-back walks. Salina starter Ben Butler retired the next two batters but the third out proved to be elusive. Erwin Real doubled to bring home two runs. Danny Kerr and Earl then drew walks before Blake Berry was hit by a pitch to drive home Real. Caffrey plated the final run with the fifth walk issued by Butler in the frame.

In the third, Tucson added a run. Earl walked to start the inning and scored when Marcus Catalano doubled to the wall in center.

The fourth inning started much as the first had. Trevor Wick gave up a walk and a double, but had two outs and looked like he would get out of the inning unscathed. However, Kerr singled to bring home DeBonville and the floodgates opened. Back-to-back walks plated two more runs and that would be it for Wick.

Eddie Grimaldo came on and hit the first batter he faced. He then gave up a single before giving up a triple to DeBonville that cleared the bases. James Prockish brought home the final run when he reached on an error and Tucson looked like they were cruising with a 13-0 lead.

However, Salina did not give up. They got on the board in the top of the fifth when Alex Niels0n singled to score Lance Myers.

Two innings later, the Stockade would load the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch. That brought Nielson back to the plate. He drew a four pitch walk to drive home the second run of the day for Salina. Next up was Hudson Bilodeau, who went the other way down the line, clearing the bases with a standup triple. That pulled Salina back within eight.

In the ninth, the Stockade tried to get one more rally going. A double by Nielson brought home Khalid Cox with his third RBI of the game. Nielson scored on a base hit by Drew Schutt to pull within six, but they could get no closer.

DeBonville scored three runs and drove in two others for Tucson. Eight different players in the Saguaros lineup scored at least one run. Nielson and Bilodeau each drove in three runs for the Stockade.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier