Highland County Hammers improve to 5-2

The Highland County Hammers were back in action Thursday night in Mt. Sterling to face their division opponent the WOMBATS.

After suffering a loss Wednesday evening to Ohio Independence 10-9 the Hammers bounced back defeating the WOMBATS 8-3.

Matthew Spears pitched six innings, giving up three runs on four hits collecting his fourth win of the season. The game started just like the first game between the Hammers and the WOMBATS with a scoreless first inning.

The Hammers would turn that around the second inning scoring five runs on two hits. Austin Arellano was the leadoff batter and was hit by a pitch from WOMBATS starter Robert Lawler.

Lawler walked the next batter, Spears. Sam Buddelmeyer stepped to the plate and lined a shot to right field, scoring Arellano and advanced Spears to third base. Buddelmeyer stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball that scored Spears.

Buddelmeyer eventually scored on a wild pitch. The next two batters Andrew Dingey and Traeten Hamilton each reached base on a walk and first baseman Tucker Ayres sacrificed bunted advancing both Dingey and Hamilton. Austin Harrison worked his way out of an 0-2 count and lined a base hit up the middle scoring both Dingey and Hamilton.

The WOMBATS would plate two runs of their own in the bottom of the second after Spears gave up a walk and a base hit. The two runs scored on back to back errors by the Hammers defense.

Arellano led off the third inning with a walk. The next two Hammer's batters grounded out. Dingey and Brock Morris drew back to back base on balls. Traeten Hamilton came to the plate with bases loaded and hit a line drive to leftfield that the WOMBATS leftfielder dropped for an error scoring Arellano and Dingey.

The WOMBATS would score their third and final run in the bottom of the third inning on two hits and a sacrifice bunt leaving the Hammers with a 7-3 lead.

The Hammers scored their final run after catcher Jared Thompson lined a base hit to leftfield. Arellano reached safely on an error advancing Thompson to third base. Andrew Dingey collected his sixth RBI of the season knocking in Thompson with a single.

Sam Buddelmeyer came in to close the game in the seventh inning. The WOMBATS led the seventh off with relief pitcher Sam Frazier flying out to Hammers first baseman Tucker Ayres.

The next batter Matt Baemel hit a line drive to right centerfield reaching first base safely and stole second base the following pitch.

WOMBATS catcher Tyler Rood came to the plate with one out and hit a fly ball to Hammers right fielder Brock Morris. Morris ended the game catching the fly ball and throwing to second to double up the WOMBATS.

The win puts the Hammers at 5-2 in second place in their division a half game out from the Chillicothe Sting. The Hammers improve to 12-10 on the season. The Hammers travel to Adena H.S. on Monday to face the Chillicothe Cobras and then to Upper Arlington to take on the Eastside Irish on Wednesday.