With victory in Game 1 of an Area IV American Legion semifinal two outs away, second-seeded Caldwell County Post 29 had the rug pulled out from under it on Sunday night.
Fourth-seeded Hickory Post 48 scored three runs in the top of the ninth to erase a one-run deficit and win 9-7 to take the lead in a best-of-five series.
Hickory (17-8) capitalized on an error, wild pitch and walk to win for the 11th time in 12 games, setting up Game 2 of the series Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Legion Fairgrounds in Newton.
Game 3 is scheduled Tuesday night at 7 p.m. back at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.
The two old rivals are playing for a berth in the Area IV finals against Cherryville or Queen City, and Cherryville won the opening game of that series 8-5 at home Sunday night.
Sunday night’s game featured five lead changes and two ties, but the biggest lead change for Hickory came in the top of the ninth.
With Post 48 trailing by one run and down to its last two outs, Cole McGraw drew a walk and Phillip Carroll reached on an error by first baseman Jon Gray to put runners at first and second. Jacob Hoyle followed with a double to right-center, scoring McGraw for a 7-all tie.
Carroll reached third on Hoyle’s double and he scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Jake Watts with Jeremy Null at the plate. Null’s single scored Hoyle for a 9-7 edge.
Hoyle, who relieved starting pitcher Tyler Poole in the seventh inning, struck out two of the four batters he faced in ninth to seal the win for Post 48. He got the win after allowing one run on three hits over three innings that included three walks and seven strikeouts.
“We gave them the baseball game tonight, plain and simple,” said Caldwell County head coach Brandon Banks. “Not to take anything away from Hickory or come off in a bad way but we gave them about everything they got tonight.
“We are a better team than we showed tonight. For eight innings, we outplayed them and outscored them.”
Caldwell County (19-10) outhit Post 48 12-8 but stranded 11 runners, seven in scoring position. Post 29 left the bases loaded once, went 7-for-21 with runners in scoring position and had two runners throw out at the plate.
Caldwell County was led by Gray with four hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Josh Murphy and Austin Beard added two hits each.
Null led Hickory with two hits, one RBI and one run.
Logan Alley took the loss in relief, allowing three runs and one hit in 2 1/3 innings. He was lifted by Banks in the ninth after allowing a double to Hoyle.
“I thought Caldwell played real hard tonight and we were real fortunate to get out of here with a win,” said Hickory head coach Fore Rembert. “There were a couple of plays we made that could have gone either way.
“The way they play, anytime you can get a win against these guys is a good win.
“We know how good Caldwell is and they have our undivided respect.”
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