Bobcats blank Tornadoes, stay hot as SOC play looms

RACINE — When you get his and they make errors, it all adds up to a lopsided win.

The Green Bobcats used 12 hits and six Southern errors to rout the Tornadoes 17-0 in a five-inning run rule win on Friday.

Green (5-0) also got strong pitching from Kase McIntyre and Gabe Blevins who combined on a three-hitter.

McIntyre got the win as he went the first three innings giving up the three hits with a strikeout and two walks. Blevins struck out four and did not walk a batter in his two innings of work.

Mason Neal went 3-5 and Brennan Renison 3-4 with two runs batted in to lead the offensive onslaught.

Blevins was 2-3 with an RBI, Jon Knapp was 2-3 with a double and an RBI, Luke Kimbler was 1-3 with two RBI, Riddick Jenkins 1-4 with a pair of RBI and Noah McMackin drove in a couple of runs.

Green wasted little time getting its offense in gear with a six-run first inning.

Neal, Blevins, Renison and Kimbler all had hits to go with a hit batsman, a walk and an error to create the big inning.

“We have been coming out in the first inning with a ton of confidence at the plate. That’s the second straight game we jumped ahead with the lead and did not look back,” said Green coach Dave Shoupe.

Kase McIntyre started and went three innings for the win while Gabe Blevins finished up. McIntyre gave up three hits, struck out one and walked two while Blevins did not give up a hit, struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Green got two more runs in the second as Blevins walked and Knapp singled and they both came around to score on wild pitches.

The lead went to 10-0 in the third when McMackin was hit by a pitch, Kimbler reached on an error and both Neal and Jenkins singled.

Two runs scored in the fourth when Knapp was hit by a pitch, McIntyre was safe on an error, Renison singled and McMackin grounded out as a run scored.

The Bobcats closed out the game with five runs in the fifth inning.

Blevins was hit by a pitch, Knapp doubled, Renison singled, Conner Blanton and Kimbler both reached on errors, Neal singled, Jenkins reached on an error and Blevins capped the uprising with a base hit.

While Southern struggled with its pitching and defense, Shoupe was happy with his team’s pitching and he also praised the defense which did not have an error.

“We knew Southern was going to put it in play and they hit the ball hard all game,” said Shoupe.

“But our guys in the field did a great job of fielding it up and making plays. We are very pleased with our defensive effort tonight.”

Green visits New Boston on Monday for a Southern Ohio Conference 1 game.

Wyatt Smith was 1-1 with Greyson Duvall and Jake Wickline going 1-2 for Southern (2-1).

Green 622 25 = 17 12 0

Southern 000 00 = 0 3 6

Kase McIntyre, Gabe Blevins (4) and Noah McMackin, Carson Johnson (4). Cooper Diddle, Jeff Lisle (3) and Hunter Jarrell. W-McIntyre (IP-3.0, H-3, R-0, K-1, BB-2). Blevins (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-4, BB-0). L-Diddle (IP-2.0, H-5, R-8, ER-4, K-2, BB-3). Lisle (IP-3.0, H-7, R-9, ER-2, K-3, BB-1). Hitting–Green: Mason Neal 3-5, Riddick Jenkins 1-4 2-RBI, Gabe Blevins 2-3 RBI, Jon Knapp 2-3 2B RBI, Brennan Renison 3-4 2-RBI, Noah McMackin 2-RBI, Luke Kimbler 1-3 2-RBI; Southern: Greyson Duvall 1-2, Jake Wickline 1-2, Wyatt Smith 1-1.