A four-run explosion in the top of the seventh rallied the Lewisburg Patriots past the DeSoto Central Jaguars 4-2 in a key Region 2-6A baseball game Friday night in Southaven.
With the win, Lewisburg won the three-game series 2-1 and improved to 18-6 overall, 6-1 in region play. DeSoto Central fell to 13-11 overall and 3-3 in division action. With the victory, Lewisburg also won the region regular season championship.
DeSoto Central took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings. Luke Sides doubled in the second and came home on a single by Josh King. Austin Kilpatrick reached base in the third inning and later scored on a double by Caiden Bullard.
The Lewisburg run explosion in the seventh began when Gabe Haley grounded into a double play that scored Kody Gilmore. Trae Cagle singled in a run as Austin Hannigan scored to tie the game at 2-2. Stone McCaughey would then score on an error and a wild pitch scored Caden Nelson with the runs the Patriots needed to win the game.
Cooper Bennett led Lewisburg with two hits in four at bats. Kilpatrick had two hits for DeSoto Central.
Gunner Gilmore was the winning pitcher in relief, as he shut down the Jaguars in the home half of the seventh. Gilmore threw 2.1 innings, gave up three hits and struck out two. Talon Haley was the Patriot starter who gave up two runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings of work, four hits, walked two and struck out eight Jags.
Peyton Davis took the loss for DeSoto Central, allowing two unearned runs in one inning and walked one.
Starting Jaguar pitcher Josh Jones threw six innings, struck out and walked one, while allowing six hits and two earned runs.
