Indians Score Eight Late to Roll at Franklin

Findley Ward pitched a complete game and Konnor Loudermilk homered to lead Stephens County to a 9-3 win over highly rated Franklin County Tuesday night in Carnesville.

Loudermilk gave the Indians the early lead with a solo shot over the right field wall and the Indians took the 1-0 lead to the bottom of the 4th inning..

The Lions scored all of their runs in the bottom of the inning Cade Gibson led off the inning with a home run, Easton Gailey walked and scored on a Luke Beasley triple. Beasley would then score on Rowen Kennedy’s sacrifice fly to give Franklin County a 3-1 lead.

The Indians would take the lead for good with 5 runs in the 6th. Hayden Scott led off the inning with a walk, and after two outs stole 2nd base. Ward doubled home Scott, and Eli Sewell, running for Ward, scored on Will Faulk’s single to tie the score at 3.. Landon Carter walked and Noah Strickland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Indians added three more runs on wild pitches scoring Landry Williams, Carmelo Renfroe, and Noah Strickland,

The Indians added three insurance runs in the 7th inning, and again, all with 2 outs. Tyler Zigan doubled, Loudermilk walked, and after two outs, Carter had an RBI single, Strickland walked, Duke Collins had an infield single that scored Loudermilk, and Renfroe also scored on the play after a Lions error.

Ward limited the Lions to 3 runs, with only one earned, on 4 hits, striking out 2 and walking 2 to get the win and improve to 6-3 on the season.

Franklin County used 3 pitchers with Gibson starting and going 4 innings, and Caden Cawthon and Parker Moorhead pitching in relief. Cawthon took the loss.

Stephens County improved to 17-5 on the season and is now tied with Franklin County at 7-3 in Region 8-AA. The Lions fall to 18-5 overall.

The two teams will meet again Wednesday night at Stephens County High School. Game time is set for 5:55 P.M. with airtime at 5:45 P.M. on WNEG.