BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood and Westwood baseball opened region play on Tuesday at The Castle.
The Bengals picked up win number four on the season, downing the Redhawks 18-3.
The Bengals jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first after an error scored one and Jackson Bottar hit an RBI single. Chance Johnson grounded out, scoring two runs, and an error scored another.
Westwood got on the board in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single from Gabriel Espinosa. A fielder’s choice ended the inning with Blythewood ahead 5-1.
Blythewood plated another run in the top of the fourth, and Westwood put up two more in the bottom of the frame.
With one out, Xavier De’Jesus drew a walk, then Xavier Johnson was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt from Blaize Owen advanced the runners. De’Jesus scored on a passed ball, and an RBI single from Jayden Quarles put Westwood within three.
The Bengals responded with six runs in the fifth – three off of an RBI triple from Bottar – and six more in the top of the sixth. A scoreless frame from Westwood ended the game early at 18-3.
Johnny Collins got the win from the mound. In four innings pitched, he allowed four hits and three runs (one earned). He walked two and struck out five. Johnson got the save for Blythewood. In two innings of work, he allowed not hits or runs and struck out five.
Espinosa took the loss for Westwood (3-2). He faced 26 batters in four innings, allowing five hits and six runs (two earned). He walked two and struck out two.
The teams will face off again tonight, this time at Blythewood. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
BHS – 5-0-0-1-6-6-X – 18, 9, 0
WHS – 0-0-1-2-0-0-X – 3, 5, 7
WP: Collins
B: J Bottar 3-3, 3B, 4 RBI. S Melendez 2-3, 3 RBI. C Johnson 1-4, 2 RBI. J Collins 1-5, 2B. S Franklin 1-4. R: J Quarles 1-3, RBI. Z Nelson 1-2. N Caldwell 1-3. G Espinosa 1-3, RBI.
