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The Red Level Tigers fell on the baseball diamond Thursday in a matchup against the Baker Gators, 9-5.

The two teams’ pitching and defenses managed to keep the game scoreless through three innings until Baker broke through in the top of the fourth. Red Level followed, taking the lead in the fifth, but then gave up five runs in the sixth, leading to the final score.

Brock Skipper started the game on the mound for the Tigers, pitching three scoreless innings before giving up four runs, only one of those earned,  in the fourth. Connor Blackwell pitched two innings, giving up five total runs, three of which were earned.

The Tigers committed three fielding errors, leading to a total of five unearned runs for the Gators.

Baker got things going offensively in the top of the fourth on a two-RBI single. Rand Stokes followed with another single that brought in one runner while a second scored on an error, giving the Gators a 4-0 lead.

Red Level got back in the game in the bottom of the fifth, taking a one-run lead, 5-4. Blackwell got things going with a lead-off walk. After a balk put Blackwell at second, Tanner Whatley singled to left, putting runners at the corners for the Tigers. Kyler Barlow loaded the bases with a walk.

Blackwell scored Red Level’s first run when a pitch got past the catcher, also allowing Whatley and Barlow to advance. Wyatt Simmons then sent a sacrifice fly to left field bringing Whatley home, making the score 4-2.

After a fly ball for the second out, Skipper singled to right field, scoring Barlow. Javen Poindexter was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. A single off the bat of Buddy Griffin loaded the bases for Grayson Hodges who hit a line-drive single to right, scoring Skipper and Poindexter and giving Red Level a 5-4 lead going in the sixth.

Baker jumped right back on top with five runs in the top of the sixth on three singles, a double and a fielding error on the Tigers.

The Gators held Red Level in the bottom of the inning and the seventh to take the victory, 9-5.

Joel Morse earned the win for the Gators while Skipper took the loss.

Five Red Level batters each recorded hits with Simmons having a double. Poindexter, Griffin, Hodges, and Whatley each singled. Hodges came away with two RBI.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 5-8 on the season. They will host a doubleheader against Goshen on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 10 a.m.