Things got a little too close for comfort for the Lyon County Lyons Friday evening in their Donny Everett Classic matchup against the Mount Juliet Golden Bears. Freshman Austin Spears, playing at third base, cut down the tying run with one out in the top of the seventh, and then, with the tying run on second base and the go-ahead run on first base, Jackson Shoulders completed his game with a huge strikeout, as Lyon County held off a Mount Juliet last inning rally to take a 4-3 win at Clarksville High School.
On an evening that felt anything like springtime, the Lyons looked to have the game under control, leading 4-0 after four innings of play. However, the Golden Bears would not cooperate with going quietly into the night and pushed the Lyons to the very end.
The Lyons took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. After Gunnar Bingham walked, Brody Williams doubled to drive in Bingham with the first run of the game. After a Mount Juliet error made it 2-0, Turner Hurst doubled to drive in Austin Spears for the third run of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Eli Baker walked and then later scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 4-0.
After being stymied by Jackson Shoulders over the first four innings, the Golden Bears broke through in the top of the 5th when Justin Lee blasted a shot over the centerfield fence to cut the lead to 4-1.
A pair of walks then gave Mount Juliet another opportunity, however, Brady Belt made a spectacular diving catch running towards the centerfield fence that ended the inning. Golden Bear fans roared their disapproval as they thought the ball had come loose when Belt hit the ground. To their disappointment, it turned out what hit the ground was Belt’s sunglasses and the out stood.
The score remained 4-1 until the top of the 7th when Mount Juliet made their last-ditch effort. After a strikeout to open the inning, the Golden Bears got a double and a single to put runners at 2nd and 3rd, setting the stage for the dramatic finish and the big plays from Spears and Shoulders.
The Lyons were limited to four hits in the contest. Brady Belt had two singles. Brody Williams and Turner Hurst each had a double and an RBI.
Jackson Shoulders went all 7 innings on the mound. He gave up three runs, two of the earned, on six hits, striking out four while walking three.
The Lyons are now 10-1 on the year. They return to action in Clarksville Saturday at 2:30pm when they take on Davidson Academy.
