After a dominant victory over Ryle on Friday, University Heights Academy followed with a pair of wins on Saturday to finish undefeated at the Fayette County Invitational Tournament. The Blazers battled past Tates Creek 12-11 in the opener before topping Scott County 7-4 in the finale to improve to 25-4 ahead of the last week of the regular season.
UHA trailed early after Tates Creek put up four runs in the bottom of the 1st, but answered with seven in the top of the 2nd. Bryson Turned got the Blazers on the scoreboard with an RBI single, Cadence Gibson got started on a big day with a run-scoring single, and Hayden Hunt tripled to drive in a pair of runs. AJ Hogart and Aiden Jones closed the big inning with RBI singles to give the Blazers a 7-4 advantage.
Thomas Hallmark doubled to drive in a run and Gibson followed with an RBI single to stretch the margin to four runs in the top of the 5th, but Tates Creek surged in front with six runs to lead 11-9 after five.
With the Blazers down to their final out, Hogart delivered a single to plate Hunt and tie the game, and UHA pushed the winning run across in the top of the 8th when Gibson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Gibson finished with three hits and four RBI, Hogart hit safely three times and drove in two runs, Hunt had two hits and two RBI, Jones collected three hits with a run driven in, and Jackson Flynn finished with a pair of hits and an RBI.
Turner held Tates Creek scoreless through one and a third to earn the win, walking two and allowing a single hit. Hunt came on to get the final two outs with a pair of strikeouts to notch the save.
Garrett Biroschik took the loss for Tates Creek, giving up an earned run with a hit and a walk in one inning of work. DJ Carter had led the way at the plate with four hits and an RBI as the Commodores lost their third straight to slip to 13-16.
The Blazers used a decisive five-run 3rd inning and held off a late rally to get past Scott County in the second game of the day. Hunt helped himself with a solo home run in the first, before RBI singles by Jones and Flynn and a two-run triple by Josh Pace put UHA in control 6-0 after three.
Scott County got a pair of runs back in the 6th ahead of Flynn’s RBI double in the bottom of the frame for a 7-3 Blazer lead. Turner came on in the top of the 7th and survived an RBI double to earn the save.
Hunt worked four scoreless innings to get the win on the mound, striking out five with three walks and a hit. He also collected two hits and drove in a run.
Brady Crace took the loss, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings. Will Rose had three hits and drove in a run for the Cardinals.
Pace finished 3/3 at the plate with two RBI, Flynn drove in three runs with a pair of hits, and Hogart hit safely twice.
Up next for the Blazers is a trip to South Warren on Monday for the first of three road games to end the regular season.
