In a pitcher’s duel, you need to take advantage of offensive opportunities when they come along. Two Murray pitchers limited the UHA Blazers to two hits and the Blazers missed out on two scoring opportunities, as the Tigers picked up a 2-0 win Tuesday evening.
Both starting pitchers, UHA’s Dan Johnson and Murray’s Luke Shultz, were in control from the very beginning. The only threat in the first three innings was when Murray had runners 2nd and 3rd with two outs in the top of the 2nd inning. However, Johnson was able to get a ground ball out to end the inning and shut down the threat.
Murray broke the ice and ended up scoring the game winning runs in the top of the 4th innings. The Tigers led off the inning with a single, followed by a hit batter, and then a sacrifice bunt, to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Reese Wilson came through with a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single from Kyle Crady, as the Tigers were able to take a 2-0 lead.
From that point one, Johnson was almost untouchable on the mound for the Blazers. He gave up no hits over the final three innings, and allowed only one runner to reach base, that coming on a hit by pitch to open the top of the 7th.
As good as Johnson was, the Murray pitching was even better. However the Blazers did have their chances on two occasions. In the bottom of the third, UHA loaded the bases with one out after two walks and a Murray error. Murray starting pitcher Luke Shultz struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
The Blazers threatened again in the bottom of the 5th after Zach Naylor singled and Mason Price walked. Drew McGowan grounded into a fielder’s choice to give UHA runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. Murray then brought in Hunter Utley in relief. Utley got a pop up and a strikeout to end the threat and the inning. Utley then struck out the Blazers in order in the 6th and the 7th to finish the game with seven straight strikeouts. Utley and Shultz combined for 13 strikeouts in the contest.
Dan Johnson and Zach Naylor were each 1-3 for the Blazers.
Johnson pitched all seven innings for UHA, giving up 2 runs on four hits, striking out one and walking none.
