By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
The Jefferson Davis Warhawks hit the diamond Monday for a twin bill against the visiting Bishop State Wildcats. Having suffered through a five-game losing streak entering the double-header, the Warhawks dropped the opener before breaking loose both offensively and defensively in the nightcap to register a victory.
With the split, JDCC's season record stands at 3-12.
Bishop State 6, JDCC 0
Bishop State gained an advantage over the Warhawks in the first inning of the opening game and went on to secure a comfortable 6-0 win.
In the top of the first inning, a Wildcats' base hit coupled with a JDCC wild pitch put Bishop in scoring position before a Warhawks' error allowed one run to cross home plate. While the Warhawks' bats remained silenced by the Bishop pitching staff, another Wildcats' run in the fourth inning put the visitors out front, 2-0.
Two more runners crossed home plate for the Wildcats in the fifth inning for a 4-0 advantage before they put the finishing touches on a 6-0 win with two more scores in the top of the seventh.
Steven Cadenhead and Jack Schwartz each went 1-for-2 to lead the JDCC offense.
JDCC 4, Bishop State 1
The Warhawks got untracked offensively in the nightcap as they pounded out 13 base hits on their way to a 4-1 victory.
After JDCC starting pitcher Dustin Blakley shut down Bishop in the top of the first inning, the Warhawks came to bat in the bottom of the inning and manufactured a run off hits by Steven Cadenhead's and Steven Walls' for a 1-0 lead.
Blakley continued his mastery over the Wildcats' batters in the top of the second and third innings.
The Warhawks' bats caught fire for two more runs in the bottom of the third. Daniel Padgett and Cadenhead got the rally started with consecutive base hits. Then, Leon Brasington's single drove home one run before a Steven Walls' RBI base hit gave JDCC a 3-0 lead.
Bishop scored its lone run of the game in the fifth inning, but the Warhawks came back in the sixth to move another run home on base hits by Padgett and Eli Himes.
As the Wildcats came to bat in the top of the seventh, they needed runs to stay alive. However, Blakley remained dominant with three consecutive strikeouts to close the door and preserve the Warhawks' 4-1 win.
Blakley went the distance in gaining the win for the Warhawks, allowing only three hits while striking-out five.
JDCC offensive leaders were Steven Cadenhead, 3-for-4 with one RBI; Steven Walls, 2-for-4 with two RBIs; Daniel Padgett, 2-for-3; Dustin Holtzclaw, 2-for-3; Jack Schwartz, 1-for-2 and Eli Himes, 1-for-2.