Six runs over the first two innings were enough for the Marshals to put away Mayfield 6-3 on seven hits in Monday’s chilly season opener at Preston Cope Field.
Carter McKinney earned the win over five innings on the mound. The senior allowed two hits, two runs and struck out six. Leading at the plate was junior Preston Holman with a single, double and an RBI along with sophomore Maddox Cope who had two singles and two RBIs. Juniors Chase Shelton hit a triple and Reese Oakley a single and both batted in a run.
After retiring the first three up for Mayfield, the Marshals got to work in their first time at the plate, starting with a walk by Alex Staples. Staples then scored the first run of the season on Shelton’s triple. Walks by Holman, Cope and Oakley loaded the bases and a fourth straight walk by Gavin Clark brought in Holman for a 2-0 lead to end the first inning.
The Marshals wasted no time getting back around to the plate, again retiring Mayfield’s first three up, two on strike outs by McKinney. All four runs in the bottom of the second inning came on two outs. The offense got going on two walks by Shelton and senior Ethan Landis off of Mayfield pitcher Jaylen Bass. The four runs were scored on a single by Holman, 2-run single from Cope and double by Oakley and the lead was 6-0.
Mayfield got on the board in the top of the third and scored another run in the top of the fourth, both coming in on Marshall County errors. The Cardinals put their final run on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Ethan Kemp crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Marshals will travel to Carlisle County on Thursday for a 5:30 game.
Mayfield 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 3 2
Marshall 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 7 3
Mayfield: Collins 1/4, E. Kemp 2/3 (2B)
Marshall: Shelton 1/3 (3B, RBI), Landis 1/3, Holman 2/3 (2B, RBI), Cope 2/3 (2 RBI), Oakley 1/2 (2B, RBI), Clark (RBI)
Mayfield: Bass 1.2 (2 hits, 5 runs), Williams 4.1 (4 hits, 1 run)
Marshall: McKinney 5.0 (2 hits, 2 runs), Oakley 2.0 (1 hit, 1 run)
