MIAMISBURG — A six run fifth inning helped Miamisburg build an 8-2 lead Wednesday en route to a 9-3 victory over Northmont in the first round of the Division I, Southwest IV sectional.
Northmont ends its season at 11-17 while Miamisburg improved to 11-16. The Vikings advanced to face Troy on Thursday.
The Vikings took a 2-0 first inning lead on a leadoff single by Billy Osmanski. An error on a bunt by Preston Barr enabled Osmanski to reach third with Barr motoring to second. Bryce Vaughn singled through the left side of the infield to score Osmanski with Barr advancing to third. Barr scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Jacob Craiglow.
The Thunderbolts answered with one run in the top of the second. Jacob Beck drew a leadoff walk. Drake Sauber reached first on a fielder’s choice with Beck forced out at second. Austin Welch drew a walk and Cooper Lykins singled to right with Sauber scoring from second to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Northmont tied the game in the top of the fifth. Mason Wolf drew a leadoff walk with an unidentified player, No. 16, coming in to pinch run. Jamir Ross got hit by a pitch and Aiden Pendleton laid down a sacrifice bunt with No. 16 advancing to third and Ross to second.
Brady Lupton grounded out to second with No. 16 scoring to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Miamisburg generated six runs in the home half of the fifth on a single by Osmanski, a sacrifice bunt by Barr, a single by Vaughn, an RBI single by Craiglow, a two-run single by Cole Paulin, a walk by Braden Trent, an error to load the bases and a three-run double by Nicholas Wharton to put the Vikings on top 8-2.
The Vikings tacked on another run in the sixth on a leadoff double by Barr, a single by Vaughn and a ground out by Craiglow to score Barr.
The Thunderbolts added a final run in the top of the seventh. Ross drew a two out walk and Pendleton got hit by a pitch. Lupton singled to second with Ross scoring on an error by the second baseman to make the final score 9-3.
Dylan Allamon took the loss for Northmont. He pitched four and one-third innings, surrendered six hits, seven runs (five earned), with a walk and seven strike outs. Brady Canan pitched one and two-thirds of an inning, surrendered three hits, two runs (one earned), with two strike outs.
Cole Paulin earned the victory for Miamisburg. He pitched six and two-thirds innings, gave up two hits, three runs (two earned), with five walks and seven strike outs. Braden Trent pitched one-third of an inning, got tagged for one hit and struck out one.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
