South Cumberland News

Aaron Osada and Ryder Morey combined for nine innings of stellar pitching and the Motlow Bucks overcame an early two-run deficit to beat the Southwest Tennessee Saluqis 5-2 Friday afternoon in the first game of a three-game series at the Driver Baseball Complex.

The Bucks (6-11, 2-4) beat a nationally ranked opponent for the second week in a row after handing No. 2 Walters State a loss last weekend. Southwest Tennessee (23-5, 5-1) entered the weekend ranked No. 24.

The Saluqis won the series with a sweep of Saturday's doubleheader, winning the opener 6-1 and the nightcap 7-0.

The Bucks will travel to Henderson, TN, on Tuesday for a doubleheader with non-conference Freed Hardeman. Motlow returns to TCCAA play next weekend with a trip to Chattanooga State. The three-game series begins with a single nine-inning game on Friday at 1 p.m. central and a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.

Osada kept the Bucks in game one early, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing five hits and two runs with three strikeouts. Morey was perfect in relief, finishing the final 3.1 innings to get the win without allowing a hit and striking out four.

After trailing 2-0, the Bucks scored one in the bottom of the fifth, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

John Hale wielded the big bat for Motlow, going 4-4 with a home run, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Hale also stole four bases, leading the Bucks who had eight overall. Julius Scearce had two hits with an RBI and a stolen base, and Kaleb Valdez drove in two runs.

Saturday's doubleheader opener saw Motlow once again get exceptional pitching. However, the Bucks couldn't generate an offensive rally. Caden Alvey took the loss but pitched well, allowing just five hits and two earned runs while striking out seven in five innings. Evan Rom allowed four hits and one earned run in the final two innings.

Valdez had two hits while Jackson Cauthron drove in Gabe Sibert for Motlow's only run in the fourth inning.

Motlow couldn't get much going in the second game of the doubleheader. Southwest scored single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings before closing the game with four runs in the seventh.

The Bucks only managed two hits, including a double by Kaleb Gupton. Nicholas Holbrook, Griffin Meeker, and Jake Gulley all pitched for Motlow, with Holbrook starting and taking the loss.

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