
No extra innings were necessary this time.
Caldwell County put up four-spots in each of the third and fourth innings on Saturday to dismiss Murray 9-4 at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Just four days earlier, the two teams battled for 13 innings before Murray won on its home turf 2-1.
Murray (5-6) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the rematch with a run in the top of the third.
But Caldwell (11-2) was quick to counter, pushing across four runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
A run scored on an error to tie the game, then Luke Parker singled into center to plate another run and put Caldwell up 2-1.
A two-out double to center by Collin Whittington brought home two more runs to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
Murray got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth. But Caldwell responded with another four-run frame to open up an 8-2 advantage.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Parker singled into left field to drive in two runs. Another run came in to score when the ball got away in the outfield and Parker ended up at third. Parker then scored on a wild pitch.
Collin Whittington singled home another run in the bottom of the sixth to extend the Caldwell lead to 9-2.
An error in the top of the seventh helped Murray score twice. But Drew Stevens struck out the next batter to end the game.
Stevens came in to pitch in the seventh inning in relief of starter Ari Wells. Wells (2-1) picked up the win, going six-plus while allowing one earned run on five base hits. He struck out six and walked two. Stevens had the one strikeout and allowed just one hit in the seventh.
Parker and Whittington were each 2-for-4 with three runs batted in to lead the Caldwell offense. David Ginn was 2-for-3 and scored twice.
Carson Tucker was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Murray. Avery Starks was 2-for-3.
Murray still leads the all-time series 16-6.
Caldwell has won its last three games since the loss at Murray and has taken 10 if its last 11.
Caldwell will take some days off for spring break before heading to Paducah St. Mary on Thursday.