Franklin County's Talon Abraham swings at a pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Abraham had two hits for the Rebels Wednesday in their 2-0 loss to Marshall County High School.
Franklin County's Talon Abraham swings at a pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Abraham had two hits for the Rebels Wednesday in their 2-0 loss to Marshall County High School.
The Franklin County Rebels lost to the Marshall County Tigers 2-0 at home Wednesday in a first-round game for the District 8AAA tournament.
The fifth-seeded Tigers scored both of their runs for the day in the second inning with the fourth-seeded Rebels being held scoreless in the contest to begin the postseason with a loss.
Braden Jackson and Casen Gilliam led off the bottom of the first with a single and a double, respectively, to quickly put runners in scoring position for the Rebels, but a lineout, a strikeout and a fielder’s choice left both of them stranded on the basepaths.
Both of Marshall County’s runs came with two outs in the top of the second as an RBI single and a passed ball resulted in one run each to make it a 2-0 game early.
The first two batters for Franklin County in the bottom of the fourth reached base as Gavin McBee drew a walk and Jacob Hardison singled before both runners moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Taylor Austin.
Talon Abraham then hit a one-out single, but pinch runner Ethan Climer, running for McBee, was thrown out at the plate to keep the Rebels off the board.
Gus Gardner led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to give the Rebels their last runner in scoring position for the day with the next three batters hitting into outs to prevent Caden Brown, Gardner’s courtesy runner, from advancing any further.
The Rebels were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh as they lost by two.
Gardner pitched a complete game for the Rebels with five strikeouts, five hits, one earned run and one unearned run allowed.
With the loss, the Rebels moved to 9-17 on the season.
They will next play Friday against Lawrence County High School or Central Magnet High School in an elimination game for the District 8AAA tournament at Tullahoma. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
