Despite the cool early morning start to the Region 1 Tournament on Memorial Day, the Marshals’ bats were red hot, beating Mayfield 14-0 in just four and a half innings. The win advances them to Tuesday’s semifinal matchup against McCracken County, who defeated Carlisle County 6-0 to move on.
After Kaden Merrick quickly retired the first three Mayfield batters, the Marshals wasted no time getting to work, exploding for nine runs in the bottom of the first. Hudson Doughty was hit by a pitch, and Kannon Dunn drew a walk to set up Matthew Henderson who brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly.
Maddox Cope followed with a fly ball that was misplayed, allowing Dunn to score. Cope then came home on a single by Thomas Bagby, making it 3-0. In his season debut following knee surgery, Alex Staples delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Marshals kept the pressure on, as Doughty added a two-run single and an error on another Henderson fly ball brought in two more, capping off the nine-run inning.
With two outs already on the board in the third inning, the Marshals tacked on four more. A single from Staples and a walk to Dunn set up Henderson’s RBI single. Then, Kash Chiles, Cope, and Clayton Wyatt each added run-scoring singles to stretch the lead to 14-0 and secure the dominant opening-round victory.
Merrick allowed just one hit while striking out two over three innings. Kamden Story gave up two hits, striking out two in relief.
Tuesday’s semifinal at Brooks Stadium in Paducah gets underway at 5:30.
Mayfield 0 0 0 0 0 x x | 0 3 3
Marshall 9 0 5 0 x x x | 14 9 0
Marshall: Doughty 1/3 (2 RBI), Dunn 1/1, Henderson 1/2 (2 RBI), Chiles 1/3 (RBI), Cope 1/2 (RBI), Wyatt 1/2 (2 RBI), Bagby 1/3 (RBI), Staples 2/3 (2 RBI)
Marshall: Merrick 3.0 (1 H, 0 R, 2 SO), Story 1/2 (2 H, 0 R, 2 SO)
Mayfield: Price 1/2, Hawkins 1/2, Beggs 1/1
Mayfield: Beggs 0.2 (2 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 2 BB), Price 2.0 (6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB), Dew 1.1 (1 H, 0 R)
Marshall vs. Mayfield, Region 1 Tournament
