Manchester Academy struggled offensively in back-to-back losses to Central Hinds Academy on Friday.
The losses moved Manchester’s overall record to 10-9 and their district record to 4-5.
In game one of the doubleheader, the defense for both Manchester and Central Hinds was on full display.
The first three innings of the game went scoreless.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Cougars finally broke the stalemate with two runs to take a 2-0 lead.
The Cougars kept their momentum going in the fifth inning with two more runs to take a 4-0 lead.
The Mavericks finally scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 4-1.
Manchester then shut the Cougars out in the top of the sixth and came back in the bottom of the inning to score one more run, making it a 4-2 game.
In the final inning, the Mavericks were not able to score the needed runs, making the final score 4-2.
Manchester scored two runs on six hits and committed three errors.
Lake Clay earned the loss for Manchester despite pitching a really nice game. He gave up four runs (3 ER) on nine hits in a complete game effort with no walks and three strikeouts.
Warner Adcock went 2-for-4 for Manchester in the loss.
Thomas Turner went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Will Fouche went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Rainer Roberts had the lone RBI for Manchester.
Central Hinds scored four runs on nine hits and committed two errors.
In game number two, Central Hinds got onto the board much quicker, scoring one run in the top of the first to make it a 1-0 game.
But the defense quickly picked up.
The next three innings were all scoreless.
The Cougars picked back up in the top of the fifth inning, as they scored four runs to extend their lead to 5-0.
The bats for Manchester finally woke up in the bottom of the fifth inning. They were able to piece together two runs to cut the lead to 5-2.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Cougars put the final nail in the coffin with a run in the top of the seventh that made it 6-2, which proved to be the final score.
Manchester scored two runs on three hits and committed four errors.
Brett Williamson started the game on the mound and earned the loss after giving up five runs (2 ER) on six hits in five innings with one walk and one strikeout.
Blayke Dendy pitched two innings in relief, giving up one earned run on two hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Warner Adcock led the way offensively for the Mavs in the loss, going 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
Thomas Turner and Ravi Patel each went 1-for-3 in the defeat.
Central Hinds scored six runs on eight hits with one error.
Next up for Manchester is a doubleheader with Riverfield Academy on Friday night.
The first pitch for the first game is set for 4:30 p.m.
