SUMRALL — Although Purvis entered the game red hot, the Tornadoes were in need of late spark as outs were slowly dwindling.
However Purvis' bats came alive as the Tornadoes scored three runs in this top of the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh to rally past rival Sumrall 5-3 to extend their winning streak to eight games in the Region 7-4A opener at Bobcat Stadium on Tuesday.
The Tornadoes (10-4, 1-0 Region 7-4A) and Bobcats (10-3, 0-1) meet again on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Purvis for Game 2 of the series.
“We started slow, and I think both teams were tight and they kept letting us hang around,” Purvis coach Tony Farlow said. “I told the guys we’re a hit or away from being back in this and they guys didn’t give up and kept battling. This is a big win for us.”
Sumrall jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on single to center by Cade Clinton and Clinton later stole home as part of a double-steal to give the Bobcats the early lead.
Sumrall extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth as Walker Long was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Purvis tied the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth that saw Sumrall having to pull starting pitcher Drew Davis and the Tornadoes followed with three consecutive run scoring singles from Cannon Turner, Hudson Walker and Mikel Breland. Purvis had five hits in the inning.
The Tornadoes took the lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to left by Austin Lawler to take a 4-3 lead. Turner followed with a RBI safety squeeze bunt down the third base line to give Purvis the 5-3 lead.
Turner, Damon Putnam and Ethan Walker had two hits each for the Tornadoes.
“Bottom of the lineup guys contributed tonight hitting and we’ve been doing that a lot lately on this winning streak. It didn’t look like it early cause their pitcher was great and when he left we started stringing hits together,” Farlow said. “Eli pitched great and did his job and I got a lot of confidence in him. We get to suit it up again on Thursday at home and should be another good one.”
Eli Lowe (2-0) got the win on the mound in relief for Purvis tossing three innings, allowing no hits, walked two and struck out four.
“I can’t thank my team enough, they came in and hit the ball and I had to do my part and teammates making plays. We kept hitting the ball and did everything right,” Lowe said. “I had to just throw strikes and get ahead in the count and did the best. We don’t give up and it’s always great to beat them because it’s two good teams going at it. We’re trying to sweep them Thursday.”
Keaton Maulding (1-1) took the loss for Sumrall. Long, Landon Hawkins and Barrett Brezeale had two hits each for the Bobcats.
“We left 10 on base and struck out 12 teams, so we didn’t get the job done at the plate tonight. Purvis came up with big hits and we didn’t, so I tip my hat too them,” Sumrall coach Andy Davis said. “When we left the bases loaded early in the game I knew it was going to come back and bite us and it did. We have guys that haven’t been in that spot in a big game like this. First week of division don’t make your season, but if we win on Thursday we’re back to square one, but they that got the momentum.”
