Offense was on display on Friday in Richfield, as both teams combined for 27 hits and 27 runs. After all the dust had settled, Carbon exploded in the top of the eighth inning to collect a 17-10 win over the Wildcats.
Carbon is at 6-9 overall and holds the No.11 spot in the latest RPI. Richfield is one spot ahead of the Dinos at No. 10 with a 4-9 record.
The contest started quietly for both teams, as neither had any offense in the first two innings. Richfield added a single run at the bottom of the third, and the Dinos answered back at the top of the fourth as Mike Vigil sent a single to left field, driving in Maddex Willson to tie things up. Richfield found their offense in the bottom of the fourth and added four runs, taking the lead 5-1, but Carbon answered right back in the top of the fifth, when they would tie the game back up with a four-run effort.
In the next few innings, each team traded leads. Carbon added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh when Vigil sent one over the left field wall, bringing Willson home, giving Carbon a slight edge of 9-8 until the bottom of the seventh, when the Wildcats tied things up at 9-9 to send the game to extras. Even though Richfield had the last at-bats, Carbon would build an insurmountable lead in the top of the eighth.
With the bases loaded, Willson stepped in and sent a grounder to left to bring Rydge Butler home. Again, Vigil came to the plate to send a single line drive to the left, driving in Willson, which brought about a pitching change for Richfield. Logan Madrigal was the first Dino batter up and was sent to first with a walk, bringing in Jakson Bosone. Next up was Paxton Falk, who looked at four pitches before sending the fifth one to center, bringing Willson and Vigil home to push the Carbon lead to 14-9. Madrigal would then score on a wild pitch, and Tyrus Madsen sent a fly ball that was mishandled by the shortstop, allowing Butler to score. The Dions were able to hold the Wildcats to a single run in the bottom of the frame to take a 17-10 win.
Vigil had a day at the plate going 3-4, including the home run, collecting four RBIs, and scoring one for Carbon. Willson was close behind at 3-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Butler was 2-4, scoring three times, and Logan Bennett was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored in the win.
Falk got the start on the mound, putting in four innings of work, giving up five runs, four earned on four hits, and struck out three. Willson went a pair of innings with three runs, two earned on five hits and one strikeout, and Vigil closed out the game with two innings of work, surrendering two earned, with five hits and struck out one.
The Dinos head back to the diamond on Tuesday when they welcome the No. 1 ranked Canyon View Falcons.
Game time is set for 3:00.