After the Straughn junior varsity baseball team posted a 26-0 win against the visiting Samson junior varsity team. Straughn’s varsity Tigers held on for a 5-4 win against their Samson counterparts.

 

Samson struck first with two run in the top of the second inning, but Straughn (9-1) answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to claim a 3-2 lead.

 

Cory Williamson started the rally with a single and Jeffery Odom followed his lead with a base hit.

 

Williamson scored later in the inning when Brett Page got down a bunt and the Samson pitcher threw the ball away.

 

Odom and Page scored when Clint Burkett slammed a two-RBI double.

 

Samson tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth.

 

Straughn clawed back in front of Samson in the bottom of the fifth when Jason Ballard and Jon Jones scored.

 

Ballard reached on a single and Jones was hit by a pitch. They both scored when Brock Bracewell pounded a two-RBI triple off the Samson hurler.

 

In the top of the sixth, Samson sent one run in and threatened to tie the game.

 

The first Samson batter of the inning struck out when Bracewell got him swinging.

 

The next batter doubled and scored when a teammate doubled.

 

The next Samson hitter popped up to shortstop.

 

A walk game Samson runners on first and second with two outs and Straughn up 5-4.

 

Bracewell pitched out of the jam by recording his second strikeout of the inning.

 

Straughn head coach Mike Buckelew said it was an intense game.

 

“It was tight the whole game,” Buckelew said. “We got outstanding pitching again and we got big hits when we needed them.”

 

Straughn returns to the diamond on Thursday when they battle the Red Level Tigers in Red Level.

 

Buckelew said he expects both teams to be ready to play.

 

“I watched them play Friday and they were very impressive,” Buckelew said. “Coach Grimes has done a good job with them. They are a good looking team. It’ll be a good ball game.”