McKenzie, Tenn. — Blue Mountain Christian defeated Bethel (Tenn.) 5-4 in a nine-inning game Tuesday in McKenzie, Tennessee, according to team sources.
The Toppers took an early lead in the first inning when Ross Polizzi drove in Jake Meilstrup with an RBI single. Bethel responded in the fourth to tie the game before Blue Mountain Christian regained the lead in the fifth, with Cody Presley delivering a two-RBI single to score Jacob Bryant and Ethan Hirons.
The Wildcats tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The Toppers then went ahead in the seventh when Gates Gerhart drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Bryant. An insurance run was added in the eighth when Hirons scored his second run of the game, making it 5-3.
Bethel made a late push in the ninth with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5-4, but Nolan Wood secured the win with two scoreless innings for the save. The Toppers finished with 10 hits, led by Hirons, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Presley drove in two runs, while Polizzi and Gerhart each added an RBI. Jacob Bryant contributed a double.
On the mound, Caden Moore started and pitched three scoreless innings. Jabari Farr earned the win in relief, and Wood closed the game with two innings for the save, according to team officials.
