In the first game of a doubleheader against W.F. West and Centralia — rescheduled contests after rainouts — the Tumwater baseball team dispatched the Bearcats 8-0, before falling to the Tigers, 13-7 at home Saturday.
In the first game, the Thunderbirds pitching duo of Ryan Orr and Blake Smith were nearly untouchable. Orr went the first five innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and just one walk. Smith followed that up with two more scoreless innings of relief, with five strikeouts and no walks.
Trent Roy added a home run and two RBIs, and Orr went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and two walks.
The Bearcats simply couldn’t find run support for their trio of pitchers, with Brock Bunker recording their only hit on a 1 for 3 day, and Gavin Fugate drawing a walk.
Fugate also got the start on the mound and threw three innings with three hits and two earned runs, with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Bearcats will look to rebound against Centralia at home on Tuesday.
In the second game, between the T-Birds and Centralia, the Tigers blasted nine runs across home plate in the sixth inning to run away with a victory on the road.
The Tigers racked up 16 total hits, more than doubling the Thunderbirds’ 7. Moshie Eport went 1 for 2 with three RBIs, a run, and three walks. Cole Wasson added a 2 for 5 line with a run and three RBIs.
While the Thunderbirds scored in every inning but one, Tiger starter Landen Jenkins and reliever Landon Kaut were solid, with Jenkins going four innings allowing five hits, four earned runs while striking out one and walking one, and Kaut going the rest of the way with 2 hits and one earned run with two strikeouts.
In a complete reverse for the Thunderbirds in the first game, the home squad’s pitching staff struggled, especially in the nine-run sixth.
The Tigers will take on W.F. West in a Swamp Cup rematch on Tuesday while the T-Birds play Rochester at home.
