After losing game one of the 4A state championship series, the Blythewood Bengals baseball team laid it all out on the line Wednesday night against the Lexington Wildcats. The Bengals were able to overcome an early 2-1 defect and saved their season with a 7-2 victory. With his team on the brink Blythewood head coach Barry Mizzell never lost faith in his Bengals.
“Our backs were to the wall,” Mizzell said. “But I told our players just get it to a third game and anything can happen.”
Blythewood took the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Tyler Romanik smoked a ball down the left field line for an RBI double to score Andrew Beckwith and put the Bengals on top 3-2. Blythewood did not give up another run and extended their lead with a run in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth inning. In that sixth inning the Bengals sent nine batters to the plate and scored off three hits, two walks, an error and a wild pitch. Blythewood’s starting pitcher Allen Louthian earned the victory allowing two runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts in all seven innings of work. With the game-two win the Bengals forced a deciding game three at Carolina Stadium on Friday. Mizzell looks forward to the championship deciding contest.
“I think it’ll be a great atmosphere and a terrific reward for these young men,” Mizzell said.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
