Wolverines split 4 games at Ripley Tournament

RIPLEY — The Vian Wolverines split their four games in last weekend’s Ripley Invitational Tournament.

Vian won its first two games in the Ripley Invitational Tournament, beating Garber 11-1 and Sentinel 4-3 on Thursday. At the time, that ran the Vian winning streak to four games.

However, the weekend ended on a down note as the Wolverines lost both of their final two games in the Ripley Tournament, falling 4-3 in eight innings to Morrison on Friday and 8-0 to Sterling on Saturday.

In the win over Garber, the Wolverines scored twice in the first inning for a 2-0 lead, which became a 4-1 lead after three frames. The Wolverines (9-8) put the game into run-rule status with a seven-run fourth inning.

For the contest, Gilbert was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Michael Polecat doubled with three runs scored and an RBI and Cash Collins tripled with an RBI and a run scored for Vian. Polecat (3-1) got the completegame victory as he fanned seven Garber batters in four innings and threw a two-hitter. In the victory over Sentinel, the Wolverines broke a 1-all tie with single runs in the third and fifth innings for a 3-1 lead. After the Bulldogs cut their deficit to 3-2 in the fifth inning, the Wolverines got big insurance run in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead.

For the game, Collins was 4-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored, while Polecat was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for Vian.

Riley Ellis (3-0) got the complete-game victory, recording eight strikeouts and scattering seven hits in seven innings.

In the loss to Morrison, the Wildcats scored twice in the seventh inning to tie the game at 3-all to force extra innings, then walked it off in the eighth inning.

In defeat, Ellis was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Vian.

Draighton Fletcher (0-1) suffered the loss in relief, but the winning run Morrison scored in the eighth inning was unearned due to one of Vian’s four errors. Gilbert went the first seven-plus innings with four strikeouts but only allowed one earned run as the other two Morrison runs he allowed scored due to Vian’s other three errors.

In the loss to Sterling, the Wolverines were twohit as the only blemishes against Sterling pitching were singles by Fletcher and Polecat.

The Tigers scored once in the first inning, three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings and once in the sixth inning. The sixth-inning run put the game into run-rule status.

Kaden Fulbright (2-2) took the loss, going the first four innings with three Ks. Taylor went the final inning with a strikeout.

The Wolverines had Monday’s home game with Warner rained out, but were still slated to play Tuesday at home against Central before a 4:30 p.m. Thursday road game against Eufaula, a 4:30 p.m. Friday home game against Haskell and a noon Saturday home three-way against Prairie Grove, Ark., and Spiro. Vian’s Monday home softball game against Muldrow also was rained out.