By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the sixth to rally for a 4-1 season-opening baseball win over McKenzie Monday at Elam Stadium.
Barrett Cox was masterful on the hill for the Tornadoes, going the distance while twirling a two-hitter. He struck out eight and walked just two, throwing 58 of 96 pitches for strikes.
Skyler Hall’s run-scoring single – UC’s first hit of the game – plated Will Ragsdale with the tying run, and Logan Dawkins followed with a RBI double that scored pinch-runner Kirben Thompson with the deciding tally.
Tucker Davis laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that brought home Luke Joslin with an insurance run before Dawkins raced home on a wild pitch to complete the scoring.
Union City will be back in action again today at 5 o’clock in Milan.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL
UC 4-9, Milan 3-2
The Tornadoes scored four times in the second to rally from a 3-0 deficit in Game 1, then erupted for eight runs in their first two at-bats to take the nightcap and sweep their season-opening doubleheader against the visiting Bulldogs.
Preston Creswell whiffed seven Milan batters and gave up two hits and no earned runs to highlight the first-game victory. Japeth Caldwell and Bryce Burnett had hits and scored runs for UC, while Brayden Marshall, Will Kail, and Grady Gurley drove in runs.
Jackson Huffstutter had two hits and three RBI to pace Union City in Game 2. Creswell went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of ribbies, and Caden LeCornu and Kobe Maddux each crossed the plate twice.
Caldwell struck out six and did not give up a hit in four innings of solid mound work to get the pitching win.
UC will play at Martin today at 5 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Halls 7, UC 3
The Lady Tornadoes hurt their cause with four errors after taking an early 1-0 lead.
Three of Halls’ runs were unearned – the result of UC misplays.
Mattie Smith, Kennedi Robinson, and Clare Atwill had extra-base hits for the Twisters. Smith, Addison Carr, and Caty Jo Hoffman all drove in runs.
Smith struck out eight in four innings of work in the circle. She allowed just two earned runs.
Carr fanned four in three innings of relief.
Union City will play at Westview today at 5 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Paris Inman 7, UC 0
Union City ran into a tough opponent in its season-opener, falling at War Memorial Stadium.
Wrigley Harder managed the Tornadoes’ lone shot on goal.
Head coach Jason Deem commended Hadlee Duncan and Connor Hudson on their defensive effort in the contest.
UC will play at Huntingdon today at 5:30.