A seventh inning rally fell just short for the Emery Spartans as the team suffered its first loss of the season in a 7-6 setback to 5A Timpview on the road Monday afternoon.
Monday’s game, a late addition to the schedule, featured several ups and downs. Trailing by one run in the seventh frame the Spartans loaded the bases with no outs. Unable to advance the lead runner home to force the bottom of the inning, the game ended in disappointment.
“We had 16 hits, so we mashed the ball, but it didn’t come at the right time,” said manager Rob Smith. “Having bases loaded and not getting a hit is tough. That’s baseball. Sometimes it just happens that way.”
Ryker Jensen pitched three solid innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs. Trevin Wakefield was charged with the loss as he too pitched three frames giving up three earned runs and seven hits, despite striking out three batters.
The Emery offense struck first as the Spartans held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. Timpview took their first lead of the game in the third as they plated four runs in the bottom half. Two innings later Emery recaptured the lead by scoring five runs. The final three runs of the game went to Timpview in the fifth and sixth innings.
Lost opportunities ultimately came back to haunt the Spartans. Out hitting Timpview 16-9, Emery left 10 runners stranded.
“With the way our pitching has been six runs puts us in position to get a win,” said Smith. “I thought our pitcher’s threw really well again, but one ball got to the outfield and changed the game.”
Gannon Ward continued to pace the Emery offense as he finished 3-4 at the plate with two RBI and a triple. Jace Mangum and Wade Stilson both ended 3-4 at the plate, while Oakley Alton and Wakefield each recorded two hits.
Now 2-1 on the season the Spartans will take the majority of the week off before returning to this weekend in Richfield for four games in two days.
The first contest is scheduled for Friday against Duchesne at 1:30 p.m.. The team take the field again at 4:00 against Millard. Saturday will bring two more games as the Spartans will meet Ogden and South Sevier.