Robert Turner Shines As Murphy Completes 7th Inning Comeback To Knockoff Hayesville

Hayesville, NC- The two top teams in the Smoky Mountain Conference took to the diamond last night as Hayesville hosted Murphy in game one of the conference rivals’ two-game series.

Braxton Cherry started the game for the Yellow Jackets, and the ace had a great outing on the mound. The lefty last 6 innings while allowing just 2 runs on five hits and striking out 7.

Cole Laney toed the rubber for the Dogs, allowing 4 runs (0 Earned Runs) on three hits over five innings while striking out 8 Hayesville batters. Robert Turner came on in relief and picked up the win for the Bulldogs as he threw two innings of perfect baseball, allowing 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 3.

Turner was also the leading force at the plate for the Bulldogs as he went 4-4 on the evening, including a double and 2 RBIs.

 

Recap:

Hayesville jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as they plated three runs due in part to Dakota Matheson’s RBI triple. The Jackets would tack on one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning and all things were coming up Hayesville as they headed into the final inning with a 4-1 lead over the Bulldogs.

Zack Skogen led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to left field which gave the Bulldogs a sign of life. Mason Thrasher then drew a walk which brought former Hayesville Yellow Jacket Mason Cook to the plate and Cook wasted no time with the bat in his hands as he was able to line-drive a single to left field and make it a two-run ballgame.

With the pressure mounting, freshman Robert Turner stepped up to the plate for the Dogs with two runners on and one out in the inning. After quickly getting ahead in the count 2-0, Turner centered up a fastball to center field that scored both base runners and tied the game at 4 runs a piece.

After a Cole Laney single, Turner was now on third base as the potential game-winning run as Isaac Cole stepped into the box. Isaac Cole seized the opportunity with a sac-fly to center field that allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead, 5-4.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning the Bulldogs fate relied on freshman Robert Turner once again, as the righty took the mound needing only three outs to come away with a victory.

Turner slammed the door shut on the Jackets in the final half-inning, setting Hayesville down in order thanks to two strikeouts and a flyout.