Galax… The Cougar baseball team scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to defeat the Galax Maroon Tide 6-5.

Cougar catcher Andrew Lowe led them with three RBIs, scored a run and had two hits. Kam Hall had two hits and two RBIs. Grant Osteen knocked in the winning run in the top of the seventh, and he picked up the winning pitcher decision. He tossed one and one-third of relief giving up just one hit and striking out one.

Stew Merdian who knocked in two and scored one led the Galax Maroon Tide. He also started on the mound and pitched five innings striking out six and surrendering three runs as he left in a tied game. Lucas Dalton also had two RBIs while Caleb Spurlin went two for two scoring one and knocking in one.

The Maroon Tide went up in the bottom of the first scoring twice. They then pushed another run across in their half of the second for a 3-0 lead.

Pulaski Co. (3-2) then tied the game in the third on Lowe’s bases-loaded double. The game remained tied until the Maroon Tide came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth.

With runners on first and third and one out, they executed a suicide squeeze to perfection when Dalton put down a bunt with Spurlin racing in from third.

The Cougars would then score two in the top of the sixth on Hall’s double, but the Cougars would then load the bases up 5-4 with no one out. Unfortunately the next three batters all struck out leaving the bases loaded.

Galax then tied the game at 5 when Merdian hit a sharp single to right scoring Jake Snyder going into seventh.

Pulaski Co. started the seventh with a Lowe single to left; Jordan Lytton pinch ran for him. Lytton then moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on the single by Osteen. The Cougars once again loaded the bases. This time with one out, but they couldn’t push any more runs across the plate.

Cougar head coach Jared King said, “We executed just enough tonight to win. Give Galax pitchers some credit. They shut us down there in the sixth and seventh after we had scored runs.“ He then added, ”I liked how we competed and Grant (Osteen) stepped up for us. He’s a senior and came through at the plate and on the mound. Andrew Lowe had another good offensive night, knocking in three.”

Pulaski Co. will not be back in action until next Tuesday, April 5, as they host the Cave Spring Knights at 5 pm.

R H E LOB

Galax 5 9 0 8

Pulaski Co. 6 7 4 9