Wildcats build big lead, hold off Bison for 9-8 win

Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports

LOGAN   Landon Hall doubled and drove in three runs while Bentley Wiliamson drove in two runs as Class AA No. 6 Logan held off a late charge from regional foe Buffalo for a 9-8 win Monday night at Roger E. Gertz Field.

Luke Blankenship worked out of a seventh inning jam for his first save of the season. The Wildcats (4-1) held on for their third win in as many games despite squandering the majority of a 9-2 lead.

Hunter Rutan doubled and drove in three and Nate Gillispie, Anthony Pitchford, Trevor Rutan and Luca Signorini each drove in a run for the Bison (3-7), who have lost seven of 10 games to start the season.

Buffalo plated two runs in the top of first off Logan starter William Bryant without the benefit of a hit. Gillispie walked with the bases loaded and Pitchford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Bison a 2-0 lead.

Bryant recorded just one out and was relieved by Devin Stewart, who was able to get Britton Hudson to ground into a double play to end the first inning.

The Wildcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the first when Blankenship reached on an error to score Talan Thompson. Williamson followed with an RBI groundout and Jayce Wolfe and Tanner Akers added run scoring singles for a 4-2 lead.

The Wildcats added a run in the second when Thompson singled and scored on a passed ball for a 5-2 lead.

Logan plated four runs in the fourth to open a 9-2 lead on Williamson's single and Hall's three-run double.

The Bison cut the deficit to 9-7 with a five-run sixth inning. Pitchford scored on an error, Hunter Rutan had a three-run double and Trevor Rutan an RBI single as part of a five-run sixth.

Attilio Signorini's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Pitchford to make it 9-8, but Blankenship got Evan Panaro to ground into a fielder's choice, however, Luca Signorini was called out for interference ending the game.

Levi Kazee picked up the win for Logan after pitching two hitless innings with two strikeouts.

Pitchford suffered the loss after allowing five runs on five hits with three walks and one strikeout in two innings.

Hunter Rutan was 2 for 3 with a double, three RBI and two runs and Caiden Craig went 2 for 4 for the Bison.

Ivan Miller had two hits and scored two runs for Logan. Thompson had one hit and scored three times.