By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City completed a season-opening series sweep of Dresden in prep baseball Tuesday, beating the Lions 6-4.
Timely hitting and solid pitching keyed the triumph as the Twisters had a trio of extra-base hits and struck out eight Dresden batters while allowing just two earned runs and four hits.
The Tornado baseball team was the lone winner among Purple and Gold entries Tuesday as both UC tennis teams, Twister softball and soccer dropped contests on the second day of the spring sports season.
The UC Middle School baseball squad dropped a doubleheader vs. South Gibson County.
The following is a recap of those games:
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 6, Dresden 4
The Tornadoes made it back-to-back victories over Dresden, building a 6-1 lead before holding on to win for the second straight day.
Tucker Davis smacked a solo homer, Luke Joslin went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, and Barrett Cox and Will Ragsdale each doubled to pace the Union City offense.
Ragsdale, Kyler Southerland, Logan Vincent and Copeland Chism contributed ribbies to the winning cause.
Cox fanned three and did not give up an earned run in 3 1/3 runs to notch the pitching win. Ragsdale surrendered but one hit and struck out four in relief before Logan Dawkins got the final three outs for the Twisters.
UC plays host to Lake County Thursday at 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Mayfield 4, UC 3 (G)
Mayfield 4, UC 2 (B)
The Tornado squads dropped a couple of hard-fought matches against visiting Mayfield, with several of those individual matches going down to the wire.
Molly Kizer and Davy Frankum were singles winners for the UC girls. The doubles team of Davy and Dani Frankum was also victorious.
Gavin Pledge and Bryce White recorded wins in singles play for the Twister boys.
Both Union City teams are now 1-1 heading into Thursday’s road matches at McCracken County.
Girls
Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Molly Null 1-6, 0-6
Molly Kizer vs. Charli Stanley 6-2, 6-4
Davy Frankum vs. Josie Hale 8-6 Tie-Break, 6-4
Dani Frankum vs. Gracie Sutla 2-6, 0-6
Jamie Becton vs. Tyler Sloan 6-4, 4-6, 6-10 Third Set Tie-Break
Lexi Petty vs. Sadie Sutla 5-7, 2-6
Natalie Long vs. Sadie Robbins 8-8 Tie
Doubles
Bondurant/Kizer vs. Null/Gracie Sutla 3-8 Pro Set
Frankum/Frankum vs. Stanley/Sloan 8-2 Pro Set
Boys
Singles
Charleton Wisener vs. Michael East 0-6, 1-6
Gavin Pledge vs. Karsen Neely 6-0, 6-2
Bryce White vs. Will Schultz 6-0, 6-3
Lyndon Brown vs. Anderson Smith 3-6, 6-2, 7-10 Third Set Tie-Break
Doubles
Wisener/Pledge vs. East/Neely 4-8 Pro set
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Brighton 14, UC 4
The Cardinals scored in every inning and took advantage of six errors to beat Union City by the mercy rule.
The Lady Tornadoes cut a 6-1 deficit to two runs in the fourth before Brighton broke the game open with eight consecutive tallies.
Addison Carr tripled and drove in three runs for UC. Bayleigh Long went 2-for-2 and reached base three times with an RBI.
Seven of the 10 runs charged to losing pitcher Mattie Smith were unearned due to Twister misplays.
Union City will next play at Ripley Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
Obion Central 7, UC 0
The Tornadoes were shut out in their season opener, managing just five shots on goal. Miguel Sanchez had three of those attempts that were denied.
Ka’Jaylon Bell had 10 saves in goal for Union City.
“Obviously, the final score wasn’t what we wanted, but I am proud of our guys as they stayed coachable throughout the match and never once hung their heads,” UC head coach Travis VanHooser said.
The Twisters host South Fulton Thursday at 5 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
South Gibson 13-10, UC 3-1
Union City scored first in the opener before the Hornets responded with 13 unanswered runs.
The Twisters mustered but two singles in dropping the nightcap and to 2-3 on the young season.
Ben Howell singled and drove in two of the Tornadoes’ three tallies in the first game. Jack Theobald had the other RBI, along with a single and a run scored, while C.J Ware singled and Bryce Burnett crossed the plate.
Brayden Marshall was tagged with the pitching loss.
In Game 2, Theobald singled and scored on Will Kail’s RBI. Marshall had UC’s only other hit.
Kail was the losing pitcher.
Union City will host Trenton Friday in a make-up game.