Valley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER — Tioga carried a 3-1 advantage into the fifth inning over defending IAC Small School champion Union Springs here Wednesday, but the Wolves rallied to record a 9-3 victory.
Union Springs parlayed a trio of walks and one single into three runs to go ahead, 4-3.
Two innings later, the Wolves stretched their lead to 9-3 with four walks, three singles and an error.
The Tigers attempted to get back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning after Cam Ross reached on a one-out error, but Union Springs turned a double play to end the threat.
Down by a half-dozen runs heading into the home half of the sixth, Tioga’s Jaxon Bidwell singled, but a pair of pop ups in the infield and a grounder stranded him at first.
Cooper Dember started off the Tiger seventh by reaching base after being hit by a pitch, but he too was left at first.
Tioga pitcher Josh Rought got out of a jam in the first by striking out two batters with runners at second and third and the Tigers would push a run across in their first turn at bat.
Anthony Powell led off with a base hit, moved to second on an error, then moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Dember and Max Paugh would draw two-out walks, but were left stranded.
A double, hit batter and passed ball allowed the Wolves to tie the score in the top of the second, but the deadlock wouldn’t last long.
Jacob Guiles singled with one away, Bidwell drew a base on balls and an error off the bat of Powell loaded the bases. With two down, Rought and Dember reached base via a walk, each bringing in a run for a 3-1 lead.
Powell finished with a hit and two runs, Bidwell added a hit and a run, Rought and Dember added one RBI each, and Guiles tacked on a hit.
Rought struck out eight batters over 4 ⅓ innings giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks.
Ross pitched 2 ⅔ innings. He struck out six, walked six, and surrendered four hits.
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PHOTOS BY AMANDA BAILEY.
