BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence extended its late-season winning streak to five straight with a tough 7-6 victory over Class A No.15 Vincennes Rivet on Saturday afternoon.
The Stars (17-6) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Lucas Ira escaped trouble in the seventh to earn a key save as BNL fought off the pesky Patriots (15-6) after a fast start. For the third straight game, BNL exploded to a quick first-inning lead and forged to a 5-0 advantage before Rivet battled back to a 6-6 deadlock.
In the sixth, Cal Gates cracked a triple to deep left field and scored when the Raiders threw the ball away while trying to cut him down, allowing Gates to score the go-ahead run. In the seventh, Ira gave up two one-out hits, but recorded a huge strikeout and coaxed a pop-up to Tyler Stigall at second base for the final out.
“Credit to Rivet for playing a good game against us,” BNL coach Steven McNabb said. “They hope to win a sectional next week, and they are young, a lot like we are.
”Chase (Rynders), Grayson (Gillespie) and Lucas did a great job throwing strikes and giving us a chance to win. Grayson filled up the zone, and I was glad we could challenge Lucas in the seventh to get the save. He told me he was going to get the last two guys, and that is the type of confidence I need from him. He has all of the ability.
“Cal had a big swing in the sixth to break the tie. That’s what he has done all year.”
BNL scored four in the first. Jaden Gilbert, moved up in the lineup as a result of a recent hot streak, was hit by a pitch, Tate Tanksley singled, both runners moved up on a double steal, and Ira delivered a two-run single. Two walks loaded the bases, and two more runs scored on a ground out and balk.
The Stars added a run in the second as Gates singled, went first-to-third on a passed ball, and raced home on Gilbert’s fielder’s choice, beating the play at the plate.
Rivet bounced back with three runs in the fourth with a Brody Shots RBI double, a base-loaded walk and wild pitch. BNL answered that with Ira’s RBI single in the fourth, but the Patriots pulled even in the fifth, with three hits and a key BNL error fueling the rally. That set up the tense finish.
BNL made the most of only five hits. Gates was 2 for 4 and scored twice, while Ira had two hits and 3 RBIs.
Shots had two hits and 3 RBIs while Jayden Thacker had two hits for the Patriots.
The Stars will close the regular season on Monday with a split doubleheader, hosting Columbus East at 3 p.m. and Loogootee at 6 in the finale.
