The Goblins tied the score in the fifth, and the Bombers turned to freshman Will Gross in the sixth and seventh innings to keep the score at 3-3. Gross delivered two solid innings, giving up no hits and striking out five as the Bombers prepared for their final turn at bat.
Bomber shortstop Gage McClain laced a hard, slicing fly ball to center to start the seventh. The ball was misplayed by the Goblins outfielder and McClain turned on the hustle digging hard for second base and sliding in just under the tag of Goblin shortstop Thailer Lovell.
Goblin hurler Tanner Taylor walked Luke Kruse, giving the Bombers men on first and second with no outs. Bomber clean-up hitter Jack Arp stepped to the dish and slapped a hard-tailing fly ball to the exact same spot as McClain’s. The centerfielder misplayed the ball again, allowing McClain to advance to third, but Kruse was forced out at second base. Taylor intentionally walked Bomber catcher Ben Henderson to load the bases with Drake Patrick stepping to the plate.
Patrick smacked a mid-range fly ball to Goblin left fielder Keaton Brown. Brown snared the fly ball and McClain tagged up, tearing off for home plate. Brown’s throw was high, and McClain slid hand first between the outstretched legs of the Goblin catcher to send the Bombers home victorious with a 4-3 score.
Bomber starter Marshall Roberson was in mid-season form, striking out five Goblins in two innings pitched and giving up only a single to Taylor.
In the bottom of the first, Roberson and McClain drew free passes from Harrison starter Laine Hilliard and scored on a sharp single to left off the bat of Kruse and a sacrifice fly from Arp, giving Mountain Home an early 2-0 lead.
Mountain Home head coach Jim Tejcek was upbeat about the day’s events.
“We had some good swings tonight," he said. "And we hit the ball hard, it just happened they were right at people. It’s good to get out and play against a quality program like Harrison. It helps us get better playing against another good team, even though this is a practice game. Our coaching staff took a lot of notes, and we have a lot of things to work on, like our base running, but all-in-all I’m proud of how we started things off.
“We pitched well tonight," he added. "Had some strikeouts and we only walked a couple. We hit a batter or two, but those are things that’ll work themselves out as the season moves on.”
McClain was 2 for 3 on the night with a pair of runs scored, and Patrick doubled and scored to go with his game-winning sac fly run batted in.
Lovell doubled and Hilliard singled, scored a run and stole a pair of bases to lead the Goblin offensive attack.
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