By By Adam Robinson – Sports Editor
The T.R. Miller Tiger baseball team inched closer to securing a postseason playoff berth. The Tigers defeated the Andalusia Bulldogs Friday night in Andalusia 6-5 in a key area game.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 7-10 on the season overall and to 3-2 on the year in area play.
The Tigers will take on the Hillcrest Jaguars Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Evergreen in another area game. They will close out their area schedule with a big game against the W.S. Neal Eagles Friday in East Brewton at 4:30 p.m.
If T.R. Miller beats W.S. Neal, the Tigers will claim the area championship after owning tiebreakers over all area opponents.
If W.S. Neal wins, the Eagles will be the area champion and Andalusia will secure the runner-up spot.
In the game against Andalusia Friday, three Tigers were 2-for-3 in the game with two RBIs each. The Tigers jumped out to a 6-2 advantage in the top of the third inning and held on after the Bulldogs scored two in the bottom of the inning and one in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-5.
John Mathieu was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Garrett Robinson and Robert Knowles both were 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the Tiger win.
Seth Holland was 1-for-4 with one run scored. Christopher Griffin and Will Waters added two runs and one run respectively.
James Hamric got the start on the mound and the no-decision. Derek Busby came in as relief and earned the win.
Hamric went two and one-third innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out one and walked one.
Busby went the final four and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out nine and walked three.
The Tigers got on the board in the top of the second when Griffin walked and Mathieu reached on a single.
Robinson would single in Griffin on a bunt single as the Tigers took an early 2-0 lead in the game.
In the top of the third inning, Holland reached on a bunt single and Griffin was hit-by-pitch.
After a Will Waters walk, Mathieu drove in two runs on a double. Robinson added another RBI on a fielder's choice. Knowles would add a RBI on a single. The Tigers grabbed the 6-2 lead.
Andalusia would add two runs in the bottom half of the inning and another in the bottom of the sixth, but the Tigers were able to hold on for the win.
The Tigers were scheduled to take on the Excel Panthers on Tuesday at home and will close out their area schedule against Hillcrest on Wednesday in Evergreen and W.S. Neal on Friday. The Tigers will close out their regular season on Monday against Escambia County of Atmore with a 5 and 7 p.m. doubleheader.