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Elmore County took a seven-run lead and handed Andalusia its first loss of the season in varsity baseball action at LBW’s Crum Foshee Field on Friday, March 3 by a final score of 11-1.

The Panthers improved their season record to 5-1 with the win. The Bulldogs fell to 7-1.

Brock Herring led off with a single but was forced out at second when Shea Darnell rolled into a fielder’s choice. After Matthew Stephenson walked, Payton Hall lifted a sacrifice fly to right and scored Darnell with the first run. Clark Wood earned a two-out RBI single for a 2-0 lead, but the frame ended when Brandon White was thrown out at the plate. Parker Adams started the bottom half with a double down the right field line but was stranded in scoring position.

Austin Davis took a walk in the top of the second before a pop-up. AHS starting pitcher Jake Coon fought back and capped the inning when Ryals McNeely lined into a double play. Brunson Wilson had a single in the home side of the inning, but Hall earned three outs on just 10 pitches.

The Panthers broke the game open with a five-run third and pushed their lead to 7-0. Stephenson drove Herring home with a double to left before Hall cashed in Darnell and Stephenson. Hall scored the sixth run on a passed ball with two outs. Garrett Allen followed with an RBI single and plated Wood. The Bulldogs got on the board with one away in their half of the inning. Tycamren Jackson singled to right and scored on an RBI single by Adams. Riley Cravey walked and put runners at first and second before Hall retired the next two batters and maintained a 7-1 lead.

Following a walk and hit by pitch in the visiting fourth, Stephenson plated Herring with a single up the middle. Hall helped himself on a groundout to second as Darnell raced to the plate and widened the margin to 9-1. Cody Walsh took over on the mound and closed the frame with a strikeout and groundout. Dylan Jackson had a two-out single in the bottom of the inning but could not advance after Hall struck out Mason Meeks.

Herring pushed the lead to 10-1 with a one-out single and brought in Davis. Allen then scored when Darnell grounded out. Mike O’Brien kept the game alive with a single, but Walsh struck out and ended the game via mercy rule.

Adams led Andalusia at the plate at 2-for-3 with an RBI. D. Jackson and T. Jackson both finished the game 1-for-2. Cook took the loss and allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three. Herring paced Elmore County with a 3-for-3 day and scored two runs. Hall earned the win and allowed one run on five hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out nine.

The Bulldogs return to the field for three games in Montgomery this week beginning Tuesday, March 7, and running through Thursday, March 9.