The Banner Staff
ADA — It has been a struggle out of the gate since a season-opening win over Cache for the Duncan baseball team. The Demons dropped their next three and headed into a must-win game Thursday afternoon at Ada.
Duncan trailed 3-2 going into the final inning but managed to push across a run and force extra innings where the Demons won 6-3. Thomas Edwards picked up the win, holding the Cougars scoreless over the final three innings of the game. Tyler Gay pitched five innings in a no decision and Duncan coach Darren Briggs said he was proud of both his pitchers.
“Tyler has been battling some arm issues and went longer than we thought he would,” Briggs said. “He pitched very well tonight. He kept them off-balance and stuck with his fastball the majority of the game because they weren’t touching it.
“Thomas picked up right where Tyler left off in those last three innings. They both pitched very well for us.”
Duncan jumped on top with a run in the first inning but Ada tied it up in the bottom of the inning. The Cougars scored two runs on a Demon miscue in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
Kale Thaxton led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to bring the Demons within one, but Duncan was unable to score again until it was faced with its final three outs of the ballgame.
“As a whole, we’ve been scuffling to try to get guys across the plate when they get on base,” said Briggs. “We struggled early and had some opportunities but let them get away.”
The Demons scored a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game. Edwards held the Cougars in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the bottom of the order did its job to get on base and Thaxton came to the plate with two outs. He laced a single to center to score one run. Christian Thaxton delivered another hit that scored two more runs and the Demons went on for the 6-3 victory.
“We did something today that we have not been able to do and that’s score runs with two outs,” said Briggs. “Good teams score runs with two outs and if you want to make a run in the playoffs, you’ve got to do that. We did that today and that was a huge confidence builder, especially for our guys who haven’t been able to buy a hit. To come up with that is exactly what we’re looking for.”
Duncan had eight hits as a team with Kale Thaxton leading the way going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double. Randall Snider was also 2-for-3.
The Demons improved to 2-3 and will travel to Northwest Classen today. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
