A bloop single to right-center by Gabe East scored two runs, breaking a 1-1 tie and sending Caldwell County to a 4-1 victory over Union County in the opening game of the 2nd Region baseball tournament on Monday.
East and Union’s Cade Duncan matched pitches for five innings before Caldwell (17-15) put up a three-spot in the top of the sixth inning to advance at Sid Stone Stadium at Union County High School.
Easton Thompson started the game-winning rally for Caldwell with a one-out walk. Logan Smiley then reached on an error and Trace Lacy was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Duncan struck out the next batter for the second out of the inning, then got East to pop up. However, the ball was perfect-placed between the two outfielders and the second baseman, falling in and scoring two runs. Another run scored on an infield single by Oliver Parker to stake Caldwell to a 4-1 lead.
Union (23-14) threatened in the bottom of the inning, putting two runners on base with two outs. But East got a ground ball to third to get out of the inning.
Deontaye Walls nailed down the game in the seventh for the Tigers. Walls earned the save by retiring the three batters he faced, getting a grounder to short and two pop-ups to end Union County’s season.
East went six innings on the mound, allowing one earned run on four base hits. He struck out six and walked five.
Duncan struck out 11 for Union in six innings. He allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking three.
East was 2-for-4 at the plate for Caldwell with the two runs batted in. Parker was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Logan Smiley tripled home a run in the second inning for Caldwell.
Union recorded four singles in the contest.
Caldwell and Union were meeting in the regional tournament for the fourth straight year. The Tigers beat the Braves in the championship round in 2016 and 2017 while Union eliminated Caldwell in the first round last year.
The win also allowed Caldwell to hold on to an edge in the all-time series. The Tigers lead the Braves 25-23 all-time.
Caldwell will face either Christian County or Crittenden County next in Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. semifinal contest.
