The Houston baseball team is still searching for its elusive first victory of 2012.
The Tigers fell to 0-8 following a 12-2 six-inning loss Monday at Mountain Grove.
Houston nearly got its first win last Thursday as the Tigers scored four times in the bottom of the seventh inning against Salem. But HHS lost 9-8 in eight innings.
The Tigers’ next chance to get their first victory is Thursday at Thayer. Houston also plays Friday and Saturday in the Hartville Tournament.
On Thursday, HHS forced extra innings with a seventh-inning rally. Trailing 8-4 and down to their final three outs, the Tigers pushed across four runs.
Freshman Tanner Cantrell highlighted the comeback with a two-out, three-run double to make it 8-all. The inning was kept alive by a Salem error the previous at-bat.
After a RBI single from Andrew Conaway gave Salem (6-3, 2-1 SCA) a one-run advantage, the Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth before Quinton Alston lined out to left field to end the game.
Senior Rodney Preheim had two of Houston’s eight hits. Tanner Cantrell was 1-for-4 with three RBIs.
Aaron Cantrell struck out 10 batters in the complete-game loss. He allowed 11 hits and eight earned runs.
On Monday, Houston pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning before Mountain Grove scored 12 unanswered runs to enforce the mercy rule.
Tanner Cantrell was 2-for-2 with a RBI for the Tigers, who were out-hit 13-4. Alston singled and scored a run.
Ethan Williamson gave up eight hits and 10 runs –– six earned –– in four innings. He struck out four and walked none.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Coulter and Aaron Cantrell had two hits apiece in the JV Tigers’ 16-10 victory Monday against Mountain Grove.
Houston had three extra-base hits as part of an 11-hit attack. Alston doubled and Coulter and Aaron Cantrell each had triples.
Tanner Cantrell, Trevor Merkling, Kolby Walker, Ty Wilkins, Cole Hooper and Chance Gale all singled.
Coulter was the winning pitcher.
On Thursday, the Tigers had four hits in a 7-0 loss to Salem. Curtis Woolsey doubled. Tanner Cantrell, Hooper and Aaron Cantrell each had singles.