Tuesday win

Finding an offensive spark Tuesday was like finding a needle in a haystack for Stillwater.

Regardless, the Pioneers escaped Couch Park with a 3-2 victory against Dover in their first nine-inning game of the summer with the help of some solid pitching by Lane White.

The right-hander hurled seven innings and allowed two runs, seven hits and four walks while recording nine strikeouts as his offense managed just six hits.

“Lane threw really well (Tuesday),” said Prairie coach J.T. Severe. “He found a way to get outs the whole night ... it’s been nice to see him step up as a pitcher. He’s making a name for himself out there.”

The Pioneers (17-7) also received a strong effort at the plate from Chris Armstrong, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.

“I was just swinging the bat and trying to do my job up there,” Armstrong said. “We came off a rough weekend in the (Skiatook) wooden bat tournament, and it helped that we switched back to metal (Tuesday).”

After two scoreless innings, the Longhorns got on the scoreboard courtesy of a RBI double by Newt Compton that brought in starting pitcher Eddie Cervantes.

Armstrong hit the first of his two doubles in the bottom of the fourth and later scored the run that tied the contest at 1-1.

“Armstrong did a good job hitting off the wall,” Severe said. “He tried to get the team going a little bit when (Dover) had some good guys on the mound, and he hit really well.”

Dover catcher Juan Tarango put his squad back on top, 2-1, with an RBI single in the top of the seventh, but the Pioneers evened the score again in the bottom of the inning when Austin Wyckoff scored off an RBI single by Austin Dean.

With the game tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, Wyckoff led off the inning with a walk and eventually scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Compton.

“It was a little tough but we found a way to get a break at the end,” Severe said. “Dover is a good team with some great athletes and to be able to get the win (Tuesday) was big. Hopefully (the win) will lead to some better baseball for us.”

Wyckoff, who was walked three times, scored two of Stillwater’s three runs as he went 0-for-1, and designated hitter Garrett Callaham had a 1-for-3 night.

Luke Murray, who relieved White in the eighth inning, picked up the win on the mound. He allowed no runs, three hits and struck out two batters during the final two innings.

The Pioneers will face Mustang on the road tonight at 8 p.m. and will return home Thursday for a 8 p.m. showdown with Santa Fe South.



Pure Prairie League

Stillwater 3, Dover 2

Dov 001 000 100—2 10 3

Stw 000 100 101—3 6 2

(D) Cervantes, Johnson (6), Stein (7), Compton (9) and Tarango. (S) White, Murray (8) and Clarke. W-Murray. L-Compton. 2B-(D) Compton 2; (S) Armstrong 2.