A big game from Jackson Flynn was not quite enough for the University Heights Academy Blazers Saturday morning. The Franklin-Simpson Wildcats broke an early 2-2 tie with runs in the third and fourth innings and then held off a 6th inning comeback attempt to take a 7-5 win on the Blazers’ home field.
Franklin-Simpson converted a pair of walks and a hit batter into a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
UHA came back in the bottom of the first to even things up. Jackson Flynn drove in a run with a single to right and then Courtland Gibson sacrificed to score his brother Cadence to make it 2-2.
The Wildcats got right back to it in the top of the second. Two walks, an RBI single, and a stolen base led to two more runs as Franklin-Simpson went up 4-2.
Again, the Blazers came back in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, UHA got two runners on base and then Jackson Flynn singled to left to make it a 4-4 ballgame.
Franklin-Simpson kept its scoring streak alive in the top of the third. After two singles and a sacrifice, Brady Delk singled to center, driving in a pair of runs and giving the Wildcats the lead back at 6-4. A Blazer error and a hit batter opened the door for Franklin-Simpson to score another run in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-4.
UHA had a great chance to tie the game or get to the lead in the bottom of the 6th. A single from Eli Finch, a Wildcat error, and a walk to Bryson Turner loaded the bases for the Blazers with no outs. However, the Blazers managed just one run and left the bases loaded, sending the game to the 7th inning with Franklin-Simpson leading 7-5 .
Jackson Flynn went 2-4 for the Blazers with 3 RBIs. Ryan Luckey, Cadence Gibson, Courland Gibson, and Eli Finch also had hits for UHA.
Bryson Turner took the loss for UHA in relief. He went 5 innings, giving up three runs, two of them earned, striking out two while walking three.
