UHA’s Luke Welch pitched seven dominant innings Monday night to help the Blazers to a 4-0 victory over visiting Livingston Central in the first round of the 2nd-Region All-A tournament. The Blazers snap a two-game losing streak to even their record at 5-5, with a second-round match-up with Fort Campbell scheduled for Tuesday at Crittenden County. The Cardinals have lost three of four to fall to 4-6 overall.
Two of the first three Cardinal batters Welch faced reached on singles, but he pitched out of trouble with two strikeouts to end the inning, and Livingston would never seriously threaten again.
Drew McGowan led off the bottom of the first with a double, eventually coming home on an error to put the Blazers in front.
After loading the bases on walks in the bottom of the third, Welch brought McGowan in with a sacrifice fly to double the lead. Eston Glover was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, chasing Livingston starter Tate Quertermous after two and two-thirds of an inning. Michael Barrow took the mound for the Cardinals, walking Ian Tyler to bring in the Blazers’ third run.
The Blazers added the final run on a sacrifice fly, with McGowan scoring for the third time. Welch only faced nine batters over the final three innings, striking out four to close-out the Cardinals.
Welch finished with 10 strikeouts and yielded no hits after the first inning, needing only 84 pitches to earn the win.
Quertermous took the loss, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 2 hits, with 3 walks and a couple of strikeouts. Barrow went three innings, giving up a run on 3 hits, with 7 walks and 3 strikeouts.
McGowan was the only Blazer with 2 hits, finishing 2-2 with a couple of walks. Dan Johnson and Welch had a hit and a run driven-in, Tanner Thomas had a hit, and Ben Stone and Tyler had an RBI each.
