A two run third inning was just enough for the Alliance Peltz Co. Junior Baseball squad to down Bridgeport 4 to 3 in legion baseball action Tuesday night in Alliance. Runs scored by Alliance’s Braeden Clarke and Carver Nemnich in the third inning gave the Spartans a lead at 3 to 0 that powered Alliance to the win. Starting pitcher EJ Garcia was solid in his four innings, garnering the win. Garcia struck out 6 Bombers and gave up just 2 hits.
Action started with a nice play by Alliance shortstop Kegan Nelson as Bridgeport was denied any runs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the opening inning Nelson walked to lead off and eventually scored on a Bomber wild pitch. Garcia has especially sharp in the second, striking out 2 of the visitors. In the home half of the third, the Spartans plated 2 runs. Clarke began the inning by reaching and scored on a ground out RBI by Nelson. Nenmich then walked, stole second, and scored on Bridgeport wild pitch. After three innings, the Peltz Co led 3 to 0. In the top of the fourth the Bombers scored on 2 hits but 2 big Ks by Garcia helped Alliance maintain their margin at 3 to 1.
The Spartans answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Tony Escamilla began the inning with a single and took second on a stolen base. A sacrifice fly to left by Jackson Smith would then score Escamilla as the Spartan grew to 4 to 1. The inning ended with a base hit by Alliance first baseman Carson Stull and the Spartans failing to score.
Heading to the fifth and final inning Alliance led 4 to 1. Bridgeport made things interesting in the fifth. A couple of walks and an Alliance error plated 2 runs by the guests. With the bases full of Bombers and 2 outs relief pitcher Nason Thompson was called in to get the final out. A hard hit to short was snarled by Nelson as the Peltz Co held on for the 4 to 3 win. A key play earlier in the inning happened when Alliance pitcher Kobe Strom was able to pick off a Bridgeport runner from third base.
BP 0 0 0 1 2 3
ALL 1 0 2 1 x 4
Winning pitcher Garcia, hits Escamilla, Stull