Valley Sports ReportPOPLAR RIDGE, N.Y. — Tioga held off a seventh-inning rally in a 6-5 win over Southern Cayuga here Monday afternoon in IAC Small School baseball action.
The Tigers drew first blood with three runs in the top of the second inning.
Senior Garrett Godfrey led off the inning with a double. After the next two batters struck out, sophomore Cooper Dember walked, and freshman Jackson Varner launched a three-run home run to left field to make it 3-0.
The Chiefs closed the gap to 3-1 with a run in the home half of the third inning, but the Tigers answered in the top of the fourth.
Cam Ross walked to lead off the rally, and sophomore Jackson Bombard stroked a one-out single that ended up bringing Ross into score thanks to a defensive misplay.
After Bombard stole second, senior Garrett Godfrey ripped an RBI single into left field to make it 5-1.
Southern Cayuga plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to trim the deficit to 5-3, and had a runner on third base, but Bombard, who came on in relief earlier in the inning, struck out the next two batters, and induced a ground ball back to the mound.
Bombard led off the top of the seventh inning with a single, and later scored on a passed ball to make it 6-3.
The Chiefs closed the gap to 6-4, and had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
After a strikeout by Bombard, Southern Cayuga added another run on a single to make it 6-5, but Bombard ended the game with a strikeout.
Godfrey earned the win, allowing three runs — two earned — on four hits in 4 innings. He fanned seven and walked five.
Bombard registered the save, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out six and walking one in three innings or work.
Varner homered and singled, scored one run and had three RBI, while Godfrey doubled and singled, scored one run, and had one RBI, and Bombard singled twice and scored two runs to account for Tioga's six hits. Dember and Ross each scored one run.
Tioga, now 3-0, hosts Marathon Tuesday.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Garrett Godfrey. IN TOP PHOTO: Tioga's Jackson Varner (white helmet) is congratulated at home plate after his home run. ... PHOTOS BY AMANDA BAILEY.
