Belcher, Hagan help OHS roll past DC

May 1, 2019 | 1:39 am

Updated May 1, 2019 | 1:39 am

Nick Belcher celebrates after a two-run home run in Owensboro's win over Daviess County. | Photo by Ryan Richardson

It wasn’t their best day on defense, but the bats were hot throughout the lineup in Owensboro’s 13-3 win at home in five innings over Daviess County in a 9th District baseball game.

Tucker Hagan went 4-for-4 with a double, scoring three times and driving in two runs to lead the Red Devils (14-8, 3-1 9th District), while winning pitcher Nick Belcher helped himself out with a two-run blast over the left field wall.

Owensboro head coach Logan Johnson said it was good for the offense to help overcome some early miscues in the field.

“It wasn’t the cleanest defensive game, but sometimes that happens,” he said. “You have to overcome that. We’ve got a lot of guys contributing up and down the lineup right now. A lot of guys are on time to the fastball and able to make adjustments when they need to. That’s what I like to see is being on time and using the barrel.”

Collier Higgs, Isaac Humphrey and Trace Grenier each added a pair of hits, and each one had a double. Hagan and Brennon Williams also each had a two-bagger.

In total, Owensboro cranked out 15 hits and scored at least two runs in each inning. The Panthers (8-14, 0-4) only managed four hits but did get on the board first.

Nolan Boswell hit for a single in the first inning, stole his way to third and scored on a passed ball. Owensboro rallied in the bottom of the inning to quickly go in front.

Braxton French, Hagan and Collier all reached based and eventually scored for a 3-1 lead. Hagan drove in French in the third before Belcher’s homer pushed the lead to 7-1 after two innings.

Daviess County threatened to score several in the third but the damage was limited. Cole Troutman walked and Boswell also reached base on an error for two on with no outs. Troutman then scored on a balk and Boswell scored on another error, but that’s all the Panthers could do.

Owensboro added two runs in the third, and back-to-back doubles by Williams and Grenier plated two in the fourth. A two-out hit by Grenier in the fifth drove in Higgs for the victory.

It’s the third win in a row for the Red Devils following a district loss to Owensboro Catholic. A rematch with the Aces is scheduled for Friday at Owensboro, and the outcome could weigh heavy on the district seeding for the postseason. Johnson is just hoping to continue to get better over the final weeks.

“It’s a little more momentum toward what we want to do later in the year,” he said. “We continue to improve offensively and on the mound. Hopefully we clean it up a little bit defensively.”

DCHS 102-00—3-4-1
OHS 342-22—13-15-4
WP: Belcher. LP: Payne. 2B: Crabtree (DC), Hagan, Higgs, Humphrey, Williams, Grenier (O). HR: Belcher (O).

May 1, 2019 | 1:39 am

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