Woodpeckers hold off late NMC rally to win first game of DH

sports@standard-democrat.com

CHARLESTON -- Putting together two big rallies in the third and fifth innings, the Charleston Woodpeckers held off a late push by New Madrid County on Tuesday to win 8-5 in the first game of a doubleheader.

"That's kind of been the way we've been playing," Woodpeckers' coach Paul Bucher said. "We give up a little bit, hold them then come out and swing it.

"We tacked on runs for three innings right there and probably could have come in and could have tacked on a few more if we had to I think."

Facing a two-run deficit heading into the bottom of the third, Charleston used a pair of walks split up by a Matt Dorris single to load the bases with no outs.

Next up to the plate Trey Watkins hit a grounder to the third baseman who sent an errant throw to first, scoring the Woodpeckers' first two runs to tie the game.

A few batters later a missed ground ball by the shortstop allowed scoring Nathan Maynard from third with Watkins crossing the plate on a passed ball soon after to give a 4-2 advantage.

After picking up another run in the fourth, the Woodpeckers took advantage of more New Madrid County errors on top of some timely hitting to manufacture a three more runs in the fifth.

Ryan Mathis scored the first run of the frame from third with a single to left field followed by back to back base hits from Dylan Dannenmueller and Dorris scoring runner from second to make it 8-2.

"We just got in a groove, got our heads in the game and we were ready to go," Watkins said of the offensive outburst.

Down but not out, New Madrid County rallied for three runs in the sixth to close back to within 8-5 entering the top of the seventh where they put the tying run on first with two outs.

Unfortunately for New Madrid County, after their cleanup hitter fouled off a few pitches with a full count, Woodpecker pitcher Nathan Holland struck him out swinging for the final out.

"I don't know what we're going to do," New Madrid County coach Kevin Lyons said. "We can't get a key hit when we need it. You let a team like that stay in it long enough and you see what happens.

"They claw back a little bit, get some confidence built up and turn it the other way on you."

Pitching a complete game, Holland earned the win allowing all five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four and hitting four batters.

Despite things getting tight in the final inning, Bucher said it was Holland's game to lose.

"I was getting a little nervous about it," Bucher said. "We knew he was our go-to guy because we're playing quite a few league games and we need to save pitching.

"We really don't have a true reliever to come in other than another starting pitcher. So we were going to stick with him. It was his game to lose and he battled and got the big outs."

With 11 hits on the contest, Charleston was led by Dorris who went 3 for 3 at the plate with a run batted in. Mathis has two hits with a run batted in.

For New Madrid County Caden Robbins had a two hit performance while reaching base all three times he went to plate. He had a double with a run batted in.

Keeping the Woodpeckers from the sweep, New Madrid County came back in the second game of the night and ran away for a 22-0 win.

Charleston now stands at 4-3 on the season while New Madrid County moves to 3-7.

NMC 200 003 0 - 5

Charleston 004 130 x - 8

WP -- Nathan Holland. LP -- Chris Pavy. 2B -- (N) Caden Robbins; (C) Michael Baugh.