WALKER -- Two hits won’t win a whole lot of baseball games. But Walker’s only two of the night on Tuesday at least gave the Wildcats a chance for a stunning comeback against Central..
It didn’t happen, though, and Walker lost a step in the District 4-5A race as a result.
Central pitchers Brant Husser and Hunter Arnold held WHS hitless through 6 innings as the visiting Wildcats held on for a 7-5 victory by weathering a late rally.
Walker (13-11, 2-4 district) trailed 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th inning after Central (19-10, 4-2) pushed home a pair of runs in the top of the frame.
Down to their last three outs, the Cats rallied when Hunter Murray drew a leadoff walk and Kyle Guidry poked a single to right field for his team’s first hit. The Walker rally seemed to fizzle when Rush Azlin grounded into a round-the-horn double play.
But Bailey Gautreaux reached when Central’s second baseball misplayed an infield popup, with Murray scoring on the play. Brandt Watson walked before Don Paul Smith rocketed a two-run double to left field, closing the gap to 7-5.
Central reliever Connor Heyl finally slammed the door when he got Tristan Taylor, the potential tying run, on a foul-out to the catcher on the first pitch.
Walker fell into a hole because Central got to Lane Thomas for 6 runs in the first 6 innings, 4 earned. Central grabbed an early lead in the 1st inning and broke loose for four runs in the 4th, ignited by R.J. Coffee’s leadoff home run.
Husser aided the cause with a two-out, two-run single to push the advantage to 5-0.
Walker is back in action Thursday when it plays at Live Oak at 6:30 p.m.
CENTRAL 7, WALKER 5
Central 100 400 2 -- 7 8 4
Walker 020 000 3 -- 5 2 3
Brant Husser, Hunter Arnold (6), Connor Heyl (7) and Drew Lasseigne; Lane Thomas, Brandt Watson (7) and Hunter Murray. W – Husser. L – Thomas (6-2). 2B: Central – Quint Guerin; Walker – Don Paul Smith. HR: Central – R.J. Coffee. Records: Central 19-10, 4-2 District 4-5A; Walker 13-11, 2-4. Up next: Live Oak at Walker, 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Scotlandville at Central. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
