Ty Wilkins’ clutch hit continued Houston’s impressive start to the 2015 season.
Wilkins delivered a game-winning, two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday night as the Tigers beat Licking 5-4.
The win completed a doubleheader sweep for HHS, which also beat Salem 10-6. The Tigers (3-0) play Mountain Grove at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with the chance to win the round-robin Houston Baseball Tournament.
Wilkins’ heroics saved what could have been a late-inning loss.
Licking, which trailed 3-1 entering the top of the seventh, scored three times to take a 4-3 lead. But after Kyle Wilson walked to load the bases with two outs, Wilkins singled to right field to plate Matt Knarr with the tying run and Kolby Walker with the game-winning run.
Stetson Welch gave up six hits and four runs – all earned – in the complete-game victory. He struck out three and walked four.
Tanner Cantrell was 2-for-2 with a double. Wilkins, who struck out his three previous at-bats before his game-winning hit, and Wilson knocked in two runs apiece.
In the first game Thursday, the Tigers scored 10 unanswered runs after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning to beat Salem.
Walker had two doubles and three RBIs to lead the HHS offense. Wilson knocked in four runs.
Ethan Kelley struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings for the win. He gave up nine hits and six earned runs.
Stetson Welch got a fielder’s choice groundout with the bases loaded for the final out and the save.
BOX SCORES
Licking 100 000 3 – 4 6 1
Houston 000 120 2 – 5 5 0
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Ethan Kelley ss 1-1-0-0. Nathan Poynter 2b 4-1-0-0. Tanner Cantrell 3b 2-0-2-0. Whitley Welch c 4-0-0-0. Kolby Walker 1b 2-1-0-1. Stetson Welch p 2-0-0-0. Kyle Wilson lf 2-0-1-2. Ty Wilkins cf 4-0-1-2. Tyler Burris rf 3-0-1-0. Trevor Motzkus 0-1-0-0. Matt Knarr 0-1-0-0. Toals 24-5-5-5.
2B: Cantrell, Wilson. SB: Kelley, Cantrell, Motzkus. HBP: Kelley, Wilson.
Winning pitcher: Stetson Welch (1-0)
Houston 003 403 0 – 10 12 1
Salem 400 000 2 – 6 9 1
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Ethan Kelley ss 3-0-0-0. Nathan Poynter 2b 5-1-2-0. Tanner Cantrell ss 1-3-1-0. Whitley Welch c 4-0-2-1. Kolby Walker 1b 5-1-2-3. Stetson Welch 3b 3-2-1-0. Kyle Wilson lf 3-0-2-4. Ty Wilkins cf 2-0-1-1. Tyler Burris rf 4-1-1-1. Matt Knarr 0-2-0-0. Totals 30-10-12-10.
2B: Walker 2, Poynter, SWelch, Wilson. SB: Kelley, Wilkins. CS: Wilson. SAC: Kelley.
Winning pitcher: Kelley (1-0).
Save: Stetson Welch (1).