With a five run lead (5-0) over the home team, Murphysboro Red Devils, the Benton Rangers (19-2) saw themselves gliding into their third straight Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference clinch.
However, the Red Devils found their life in the bottom of the fourth inning and suddenly, the Rangers were ahead by only one run (5-4).
Then, the Red Devils stole the lead from the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Rangers battled back and walked away with a 13-11 victory which put them 8-0 in conference with only the possibility of sharing the top with another team, but not being overtaken.
"It just had an odd vibe to this game," said Brett Blondi, Rangers' coach. "Anytime you can play in those games and get a win, it's a special feeling… especially to clinch the conference."
The Rangers took an early 2-run lead in the first inning when Derek Oxford got on base with a pop to center field. He was brought home by Tyson Houghland who was called out at first base.
Gehrig Wynn was walked after Oxford's hit and then the junior sprinted across the plate when a wild pitch was thrown.
Junior Ian McMahon started on the mound for the Rangers. He threw for five and a quarter innings, earning four strike outs and giving up eight runs.
Behind him, the Rangers were a solid defensive wall that took everything the Red Devils had to pound down.
The Rangers added another run in the second inning when the bases were loaded and Brett Bonenberger hit an RBI single to short stop. Two more runs were tallied in the third inning starting with Houghland who was hit by a pitch and then stole home on a wild pitch.
Bryden Picklesimer brought home McMahon (also hit by a pitch) with a long base hit to right field.
This brought the Rangers to their 5-0 lead, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Red Devils kicked their competition into high gear and scored four runs from three RBI hits to center field.
The score remained knotted at 5-4 through the fifth inning, but in the sixth inning, the Rangers attempted to pull away again with three runs on zero hits.
Oxford was hit by a pitch before Wynn and Houghland were walked to load the bases for Parker Williams. While he was at the plate, the Red Devils' pitcher threw back-to-back wild pitched to bring both Oxford and Wynn across the plate.
Then, Williams was walked and McMahon was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. Bonenberger hit a pop fly, but Houghland tagged up at third to score the final run of the inning.
McMahon pitched the first half of the sixth inning--giving up two runs--before the Rangers did their infield shuffle. McMahon moved to right field, bringing Picklesimer to first base which put Williams to third base and Hamilton Page to relieve McMahon on the mound.
Page gave up four runs before the Rangers finished the inning, but without the lead. The Red Devils took a 10-8 lead going into the seventh inning.
But the Rangers would not back down and they rallied back to score five runs in the top of the seventh to take back to the lead.
The magic started with senior Oliver Davis who took to the plate for the first time in his senior baseball season. On his first pitch, Davis hammered a drive up the first base line to the right field fence, earning himself a double.
"That was crazy… he got us going in that last inning," Blondi said of Davis. "Then Parker with the big hit… we were pretty aggressive. We like putting pressure on teams and making them make the plays. But Ham getting the last strike out was big for us."
The Rangers loaded the bases after Davis who stole home on a wild pitch. Then, Williams smacked an RBI double (bringing in two runs) to center field. This gave the visitors the lead back with only one out.
McMahon was hit by yet another pitch to load the bases again for the Rangers. Then, Bonenberger popped out, but Houghland tagged up at third to score. Williams crossed the plate for the final run thanks to an RBI base hit by Picklesimer.
Page gave up one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough and the Rangers left the field with the 13-11 victory.
"It was harder for Ian… he was throwing good pitches, but they were just hitting them," Blondi said. "It's a little bit of a tougher field to play on, but I'm really proud of them. Offensively to keep them on their toes. I was really proud of Ham for coming in at the end to close the door."
