It’s always a great contest when Emery and Richfield get together, regardless of the sport, and on Tuesday, the Wildcats came to Castle Dale. Emery grabbed the early lead in the first two innings, but then the bats went quiet, and the Wildcats used a four-run seventh to take the lead and win 10-5.
The loss puts Emery at 6-12 overall and 2-6 in region play. They also hold the No. 11 spot in the latest RPI rankings.
The first batter up in the game for Emery was Beau Stilson, who sent one to deep right field for a triple to give the Spartans a runner in scoring position. Two batters later, Hayden Abrams hit one to the shortstop, and after an error, Stlson scored to get the Spartans on the board first. Tyce Larsen reached on interference from the catcher, and with two on, Trygg Jensen stepped up and sent one to right field to bring Abrams home. Trevin Gilbert came to the plate and ground out to the second baseman, but it gave Jace Frandsen, who had entered the game as a courtesy runner for Larsen, the chance to score to give Emery the 3-1 lead.
Richfield would tie the game up at the top of the second, and then at the bottom of the frame, Emery would go back to work. Peyton Nielson would double with one out, and Stilson would bring him home in Emery’s next at bat to give the Spartans a one-run lead. Hayden Christiansen would draw a walk, and then Abrams came back to the plate, sending a grounder to third and driving Stilson home.
Richfield tied things up in the fourth and then took the lead in the fifth. Emery kept the Wildcats off the board until the top of the seventh, when they added four more to take the lead and then closed out the Spartans, taking a 10-5 win.
Stilson went 2-3 in the game for Emery, scoring two runs and collecting an RBI. Abrams was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Gilbert went 1-3 with an RBI in the loss.
Gilbert got the start, going 4.2 innings, giving up six runs, five earned, on 12 hits, striking out two. Conover put in 2.1 innings of work, with four earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts.
On Wednesday, the Spartans travel to Spanish Fork to face the Dons (4-12, No. 18 in 5A).
Friday, Emery gets back to region play when they travel to Richfield to face the Wildcats.