A nine-run fourth inning has Caldwell County in the semifinals of the 2nd Region baseball tournament.
Ben Goodaker held Union County to just one run on three base hits over six innings of work on Sunday and the Tigers beat the Braves 9-1 in opening round action at Christian County High School.
Union (17-16) scratched out a run in the top of the first inning to grab the lead. But the Braves failed to take advantage of some early chances, including the top of the second when they left the bases loaded.
Meanwhile, Caldwell erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to seize control of the contest.
Brady Holeman got the inning started with a leadoff double. He would later cap the big frame with a grand slam to left with two outs, extending the margin to 9-1.
Luke Parker singled home Caldwell’s first run to tie the game at 1-1. Gabe Dyer picked up an RBI on a grounder to second that was mishandled by the Braves, allowing another run to score and make it 3-1.
Carter Whittington singled home a run, then Hunter Newsome delivered a sacrifice fly to center to push the lead to 5-1.
A walk by Deontaye Walls loaded the bases, then Holeman unloaded them, sending a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field.
That was more than enough offense for Caldwell’s pitching. Goodaker worked through the sixth inning, striking out four and walking four. Cole Slone struck out three and walked one in the seventh inning after Goodaker reached his pitch-count limit.
Holeman finished the day 2-for-2 at the plate with four RBIs. Matthew Blackburn was 2-for-3 while Whittington went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run.
The Tigers are now 16-8 and have won five straight.
Caldwell also held on to a slim 27-25 advantage in the all-time series with Union.
The Tigers will play in the regional semifinals Monday against Christian County. That game is set for 7:30 at Hopkinsville High School.
Christian (27-7) advanced with a 9-3 win over Trigg County in first round action on Sunday.
Lyon County and Henderson County will meet in the first semifinal contest at 5:30 Monday.
Christian leads the all-time series over Caldwell 48-18 but the Tigers have won the last two meetings. The teams last met in the semifinals of the 2019 2nd Region tournament at Union County — a 6-2 Caldwell win.
