State-ranked Thayer edges HHS

Two ranked opponents. Two losses in the final at-bat.

Thayer scored with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday to edge Houston 9-8.

It was the second consecutive one-run loss to a state-ranked opponent for the Tigers, who were defeated 6-5 in nine innings last week at Mountain Grove. 

Tanner Cantrell was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Aaron Cantrell and Trevor Merckling had two hits apiece.

Stetson Welch gave up five hits and two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in the loss. Starter Devin Couler surrendered five hits and seven runs – three earned – in four innings. He struck out five and walked five.

BOX SCORE

THAYER 9, HOUSTON 8

HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Devin Coulter p 4-1-1-0. Kolby Walker 1b 4-0-1-0. Tanner Cantrell 1b 4-2-3-1. Whitley Welch c 3-0-1-0. Aaron Cantrell cf 4-1-2-1. Quinton Alston lf 3-0-0-1. Trevor Merckling 2b 4-1-2-1. Stetson Welch rf 3-1-0-0. Ethan Kelley ss 3-1-1-1. Trevor Motzkus cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 32-8-11-5.

THAYER (ab-r-h-bi) – Newman 4-2-3-0. Webber 4-1-2-2. Henry 4-1-1-2. Tyler 4-0-0-0. Hargrove 2-2-1-0. Pender 3-1-1-0. Foley 4-1-1-0. Langley 2-1-2-2. Tillman 4-0-0-0. Totals 31-9-11-6.

2B: Coulter, TCantrell, ACantrell, Merckling, Newman 2, Webber, Hargrove. SF: Kelley, Langley. SB: Kelley 2, Webber, Hargrove, Pender, Langley.