Central turns tables on East Ascension with 5-3 win – The Advocate

The script was a familiar one, but this time the actors changed roles when East Ascension visited Central High School for a nondistrict Class 5A baseball game.

Three days after the Wildcats blew an early lead in a loss to the Spartans, they were the ones who turned the tables Tuesday night. After falling behind by three runs in the first inning, Central rallied to post a satisfying 5-3 win.

The last game we came out and took the lead, but we gave up six runs in one inning, Central coach Mike Forbes said of his teams 7-6 loss to East Ascension at the Jay Patterson Memorial tournament on Saturday.

Tonight we kind of did that to them. After what happened to us, it was good to see our guys come back from that and show what were capable of.

East Ascension (9-7) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Jacob Thompsons three-run home run. Central (11-6) put up four runs in the bottom of the second, added another in the fourth, and then held on in the seventh after pitcher MaKhail Hilliard, an LSU commitment, left the game.

Right out the gate, we got a couple of runners on base, EA coach Britt Waguespack said. (Hilliard) grooved in a fastball to Thompson, he hits it out and were up 3-0. But we came out in the (second) inning and we couldnt throw strikes.

It doesnt matter who youre playing, if you cant throw strikes its tough to win in this game.

Spartans starter Blaise Foote struck out the first batter in the bottom of the second, but afterward issued walks to five of the next six batters.

With the Spartans lead trimmed to 3-2, Brant Husser greeted reliever Reese Hebert with a two-run double to right field. Courtesy runner Eddie Pezant was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first, but Central had a 4-3 lead.

The Wildcats tacked on a run in the fourth after Quint Guerin led off with a single and stole second base. He was sacrificed to third and scored on Hussers single through the right side.

Meanwhile, Hilliard began to settle in. He threw 49 pitches in the first two innings, but totaled 55 over the next four. Including four infield singles, he gave up seven hits and three runs. He also struck out 10 and walked two batters.

I had to find (the strike zone) and let the defense work a little bit, Hilliard said of his early struggles. The home run was a pitch he wanted to have back.

I left it up and in, and (Thompson) made sure he used the mistake.

Brady Jones relieved Hilliard in the seventh, but walked the first two batters. Forbes then inserted Connor Heyl, who hit a batter before righting himself to earn the save.

With the bases loaded and one out, Heyl struck out Thompson, and then got Kagan Wheat to hit into a game-ending double play.

Central almost gave the opportunity back to us, Waguespack said. They got the big hit and we didnt.

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Central turns tables on East Ascension with 5-3 win - The Advocate