NMCC snaps losing streak with 3-2 win over Royals

NEW MADRID -- After dropping their last seven games, New Madrid County Central got back on a winning note Tuesday against visiting Twin Rivers.

Backed by starter Jimmy Ash going 6 1/3 innings, the Eagles got a game-winning hit from Josh Reed to come back from a late Royals rally to win 3-2.

"We came back really well and played great defensively," NMCC head coach Joseph McClarty said. "Jimmy pitched very well. He worked around some walks and a hit batter. All-in-all it was just a good team win."

Tied at 2-2 after Twin Rivers manufactured a run in the top if the sixth, the Eagles got a leadoff walk from Denton Daugherty in the bottom of the frame to put the winning run on first.

Daugherty moved over to second on a steal before a pair of pop ups had NMCC down to their final out of the inning.

Batting eighth, Josh Reed lined a shot to left field that got down in front of the left fielder before bouncing over his head and to the fence. Daugherty easily scored on the play to make it 3-2 while Reed ended up with a double.

"Josh Reed comes up with a big hit there to win the game for us," McClarty said. "He stepped up, had a good swing and put the bat on it. Denton got a good jump and scored the winning run."

Though things got dicey in the top of the seventh the Eagles were able to make their final run stand. With one out Twin Rivers drew a walk before stealing second to put the tying run in scoring position.

Taking over pitching duties for Ash during the next at-bat, Kyle Harris saw the tying runner move to third on a ground out to short that got the Eagles their second out.

Before any damage could be done, however, Harris got a ground ball to the third baseman to seal the win.

"That's the thing about Kyle Harris," McClarty said. "He comes in and throws strikes, gets guys to swing at balls and lets his defense work. He's been doing it all year and hats off to him for coming in and doing a good job."

Harris picked up the save in getting the final two outs with Ash earning the win. Ash struck out three while allowing both Royal runs on three hits and five walks.

In taking the loss, Snider went all seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five.

"Not a bad effort," Royals' head coach Nathan Walk said. "Michael (Snider) threw a heck of a game, just offensively and defensively they didn't hold up their end of the bargain.

"Michael threw well enough to win. He really only threw one mistake pitch, the other (runs) the defense just let him down."

That mistake came on the first batter he faced.

With Twin Rivers up 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, Harris tied up the game for the Eagles with a solo home run. Gabe Smith reached later in the frame before scoring from third on a slow grounder to put his team 2-1.

After stranding their share of baserunners, Twin Rivers came back to tie things in the top of the sixth thanks in part to a base hit by Kaleb Doyle to start the inning. After moving to third with one out Doyle scored on a successful squeeze bunt by Snider.

"We hadn't really made solid contact all day," Walk said. "We got a guy on third and I figured it was do or die. It was one of the few times we actually executed today."

Being outhit 6-3, the Royals offense was led by Doyle's 2 for 2 performance. He reached all three plate appearances and scored a run. The team's only other hit came from Snider.

For NMCC, Harris and Smith both went 2 for 3 and contributed a home run and double respectively. Tim Clayton had a double and with Reed providing his game-winning single.

The Eagles now stand at 10-10 with Twin Rivers falling to 11-10.

Twin Rivers 100 001 0 - 2 3 3

NMCC 200 001 x - 3 6 1

WP -- Jimmy Ash. LP -- Michael Snider. SV -- Kyle Harris. Multiple hitters: (T) Kaleb Doyle 2-2; (N) Kyle Harris 2-3, Gabe Smith 2-3. 2B -- (N) Smith, Tim Clayton. HR -- (N) Harris.