Caldwell County has bounced back from a season-opening loss with back-to-back mercy-rule wins.
The Tigers’ latest victory came Saturday afternoon when a nine-run sixth inning sent Caldwell past Henderson County 15-5 at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Ari Wells was 3-for-4 with five runs batted in to lead the Caldwell 13-hit offensive attack. Wells slammed a three-run home run to left-center in the first inning as the Tigers grabbed an early 4-1 lead.
Henderson (0-3) rallied back to tie things with three runs in the top of the fifth.
However, Caldwell responded in the bottom of the frame to get the lead back.
A two-out walk by Luke Parker was followed by an RBI double to left-center by Wells. Wells then scored on a single by Westin King to put Caldwell up 6-4.
The Colonels made it a one-run game in the top of the sixth when Brody Belt’ s blast cleared the left-field fence.
But Caldwell sent 11 batters to the plate while scoring nine times in the home half of the inning and ending the game a frame early on the 10-run mercy rule.
Wells doubled home a run on a shot off the right-field fence — just missing his second homer of the game by a few feet.
Mitchell Phelps was the winning pitcher for Caldwell in relief of Wells. Phelps allowed one earned run on five base hits in the final two innings after taking over with no one out in the top of the fifth.
Wells allowed one earned run on three base hits in four innings. He struck out seven but walked five.
Drew Stevens finished 3-for-4 and knocked in two. King was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Tigers. Parker was 2-for-3 and scored three times.
Corbin Throgmorton was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in for Henderson. Maxton Meadows and Cooper Vowels each went 2-for-4.
Caldwell, which beat Livingston Central 12-2 in five innings Friday night, will play at home for the third-straight game Monday when it hosts Trigg County.
The Tigers opened the season on Thursday with a 9-0 setback at Paducah Tilghman.
