A 4-2 lead going into the seventh wasn’t enough for Centralia, as the Tigers gave up four runs in the final frame to fall 6-4 to Prairie in a nonleague matchup at Friday at Ed Wheeler Field.
Greg Bernash, Cory Bryan and Alec Gawley all had seventh-inning doubles for Prairie, the last of which drove in two runs to tie the game. The Hawks capitalized on a Centralia error two batters later to add another pair of runs and take the the lead for the first time since the top of the first.
“We had an opportunity to make a play to keep us even going into the bottom half,” Centralia coach Rex Ashmore said. “It’s kind of been a microcosm for our last four games, not being able to make that play we needed to get out of an inning to give ourselves a better chance to win in the bottom half.”
Centralia outhit Prairie 11-5. The Tigers held an 11-1 advantage in that category through four innings but never held more than a two run lead.
“We left a lot of opportunities out there early,” Ashmore said. “We got a little complacent in the middle innings. The way we’ve played the last three games that’s something we can’t do. Then the wheels just kind of fell off in the seventh.
“That’s what happens when you don’t tack on when you have the opportunity to.”
Nat Lopez made his pitching debut for Centralia. Lopez allowed just one hit in three innings on the mound, but it cost the Tigers — Prairie’s Greg Bernash homered on the game’s first at-bat.
Christian Peters went 2 for 4 for Centralia. The senior third baseman got the Tigers on the board with an RBI double in the first that scored Nolan Wasson.
Cody Parker, who started the game at second base before moving to pitcher in the fourth, was 2 for 3. Wasson was also 2 for 3, with a walk.
The Tigers were playing in their third game in as many days after consecutive losses to W.F. West on Wednesday and Thursday.
“After the last two days where we haven’t played very well and didn’t hit very well, I think it was good for us to get the uniform back on and play,” Ashmore said. “We’re just not in a good place right now. We need to keep fighting and get better.”
Centralia (7-5, 2-3 league) plays at Black Hills Tuesday in an Evergreen 2A Conference game.
Bearcats Suffer Letdown in Kelso
KELSO — W.F. West was playing its third game in as many days, and the effects showed on the field here Friday night in an 8-0 nonleague loss to Kelso.
River Liepa and Cheyton Whitright combined to hold W.F. West to four hits with two strikeouts apiece.
The Bearcats had won back-to-back games against rival Centralia on Wednesday and Thursday.
“We definitely didn’t have the same intensity that we had on Wednesday and Thursday tonight,” Bearcat coach Bryan Bullock said. “And as far as pitching goes, we did not get ahead of hitters. We pitched from behind all game long.”
Elijah Johnson led W.F. West at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a double. Max Miller and Drew Forgione each added hits.
Johnson, Blake Wichert and Brandon White all threw for W.F. West, combining for four strikeouts and seven walks while giving up six hits.
W.F. West (7-5, 4-1 Evergreen 2A Conference) hosts Tumwater on Tuesday.
