Mercer County used a six-run inning and a strong relief outing by Logan Horn to defeat Montgomery County 13-5 on Wednesday at Harrodsburg.
Mercer (4-0) struck for five runs in the first inning, only to see Montgomery (1-1) tie the game in the third inning. The Titans then scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the game open.
They then leaned on Horn, who threw five no-hit innings of relief, striking out six batters without a walk to earn the win.
“He was absolutely lights out,” Mercer coach Jeremy Shope said. “He just worked at the knees and pumped in strikes.”
The Mercer fourth inning included consecutive RBI doubles by Trevort Tate, Russell Sims and Curry Brown, a two-run double by J.T. Long and RBI singles by Dylan Logue and Layne Peavler among a total of eight hits.
“It was just a refuse-to-lose-type attitude, really coming to the plate with a lot of confidence,” Shope said.
Jon Banks had a three-run double in Mercer’s five-run first inning.
Danville 9, Marion County 5 — At Danville, Jay Hunn and Cole Phillips had two hits each and Jack Graham threw well in his first high school start as Danville (3-1) defeated Marion (0-2).
The Admirals had 11 hits and took advantage of eight errors by the Knights.
Graham allowed one earned run and one unearned run in three innings, giving up three hits and striking out three batters without a walk.
“He threw well, threw a lot of strikes and did a great job for the weather being as cold as it was and the pressure of being out there the first time,” Danville coach Paul Morse said.
Ben Mahan allowed one unearned run in three relief innings, striking out three.
Phillips drove in two runs and J.B. Williams stole two bases for the Admirals.
Wednesday’s Area High School Linescores
Montgomery County 032 000 0 — 5 5 4
Mercer County 500 062 x — 13 17 3
Hall, Nester (5), Stevens (6) and Barton. Stoeckinger, Horn (3) and Brown. 2B—Banks (Mer), Brown (Mer) 2, Tate (Mer), Sims (Mer).
Marion County 101 010 2 — 5 6 8
Danville 104 031 x — 9 11 5
Costello, Haydon (6) and Morris. J. Graham, Mahan (4), Lange (7) and W. Graham. W—Mahan. L—Costello. 2B—Rowland (D).
