MONSTERS WALK IT OFF AGAINST GOL'DIGGERS
OXFORD, AL - The Choccolocco Monsters turned a 5-0 deficit against the Gainesville Gol'Diggers into a 7-6 walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth inning on Jake Goolsby's RBI single.
The Monsters fell behind early, allowing three runs in the first inning and two in the second courtesy of a Jacques Walker home run to right. Gainesville chased starter Andrew Allen after just one inning, and when Harris Burns gave up the home run things looked shaky for the Monsters.
Burns would settle in after the second inning, going 5.1 innings, striking out five and walking one while allowing only the home run to Walker.
In the sixth, the Monsters started to come back. Trey Higgins was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. He was driven home by Rashad Robinson's RBI single to get Choccolocco on the board. Cole Tremain doubled and Jake Goolsby's sacrifice fly brought Robinson home to make it 5-2.
Choccolocco would tie it with three more runs in the eighth, with Tremain's second straight double plating a pair of runs. After Tremain was moved to third on a balk, Goolsby grounded out to second while Tremain scored to tie the game at 5-5.
In the ninth, Gainesville played small ball to reclaim the lead. After Mason Cooper singled and moved to second on an errant throw, pinch runner Zak Zavala would come home to score on a passed ball and put the Gol'Diggers up 6-5 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
It was there the resilient Monsters rallied one last time. Starting with a walk to Sebastian Collender, Hugh Windle moved Collender to second with a sacrifice bunt. Then Trey Higgins was hit by a pitch from Logan Bogue, and Robinson followed with a walk to load the bases.
Hayes Harrison's sac fly to center brought home the tying run, and after Tremain was intentionally walked to once again load the bases, Goolsby took a 1-0 pitch into center for the game-winning single.
Grainger West ended up with the win, pitching the ninth and allowing one earned run while striking out one and walking one. Bogue took the loss allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks, striking out none.
The same two teams battle again tomorrow night at 6:05 pm CT. Tickets are on sale now through the Choccolocco Park box office or online through this link.