Columbus Holds off Marietta at Golden Park

Columbus – The Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots (4-5) jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then held off a late rally from the Marietta Patriots (0-10) to win 5-3 and keep the Patriots winless Friday evening at Golden Park.

Cameron Gray and Andrue Davis each had two hits to lead Columbus, and Marietta was led by Matthew Turner’s 2-for-2 effort at the plate.

The Chatt-a-Hoots struck quickly in the first inning.  With runners on first and second, Connor O’Neal delivered an RBI single into right field to put them up 1-0.  Then in the second, Andrue Davis reached on an infield single with two outs and stole second and third before Matt McDade walked to put runners on the corners.  Cameron Gray then cleared the bases with a triple to right field that increased the Chatt-a-Hoots lead to 3-0.

The score remained that way until the seventh.  With one out and a runner on third, Austin Embrey delivered and RBI double down the right field line, and then scored on Andrue Davis’ single up the middle to make it 5-0 Hoots.

Desperate for their first win of the season, the Patriots rallied with two runs in the eighth.  With runners on second and third, Dylan Jones put their first run on the board with an infield single, and then the second scored on a wild pitch.  The rally continued in the ninth as Preston Welchel hit a one-out triple and scored on a groundout to make it 5-3, but the Pats could get no closer as Reid Brown struck out to end the game.

Chatt-a-Hoots starter Daniel Holley threw four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts.  Timbo Trawick (1-0) threw two scoreless innings to earn the victory. 

Patriots starter Zack Brockman (0-2) tossed six innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in the losing effort.

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