Published Saturday, May 10, 2008

Cougars rally from behind to take series

FROM STAFF REPORTS

sports@newnan.com

STONE MOUNTAIN -- The Newnan Cougars took advantage of a tired pitcher by scoring five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning Saturday afternoon to defeat the Redan Raiders 10-8 in game three of their first round Class AAAAA playoff matchup.

The Cougars won the series 2-1 and improved to 14-15 on the season as they will travel to Warner Robins on Wednesday for a second round matchup with the Demons who defeated Groves in their series on Friday.

At first, it looked as if host Redan was going to be Saturday's comeback winners by erasing a four-run deficit with eight unanswered runs off Cougars starter Andrew Ross.

The Raiders scored three runs in the third and five in the bottom of the fourth inning to take an 8-4 lead

In the top of the fifth inning, the Cougars cut the deficit to 8-5 as Tarkenton reached on a leadoff double and moved to third on a sacrifice by Tyler Marchman before coming home on a groundout by Carson Carroll.

After Marchman retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Raiders sent Travis Bell to the mound only 20 hours after he threw 150 pitches in Redan's 13-6 win in game two of the series.

The Cougars made the decision look questionable at the beginning as McMichael reached on a walk but Tarkenton hit into a fielder's choice that forced McMichael at second but that didn't stop the Cougars' rally.

Marchman and Carroll followed with singles to load the bases but for a moment the situation would remain that way as Bell retired Marc Frazier on strikes.

The Cougars got a lift from Hand as he hit the first pitch from Bell into left field to score Tarkenton and courtesy runner Bobby McKoy to cut the Redan lead to 8-7.

Bell came within one pitch of getting out of trouble and recording a save for the Raiders but Dunn singled over the shortstop to bring pinch-runner Braden Griner home with the tying run.

The rally was again within one pitch of ending but Clint Clark had other ideas as he singled over third to score Hand and Dunn and give Newnan a 10-8 lead before a strikeout ended the rally that saw Bell throw 52 pitches in the frame.

In the bottom of the inning, Marchman retired the first batter on a strikeout, the second batter on a groundout to Tarkenton at second before ending the game on a called strike three.