Badgers Drop Playoff Thriller 8-7

Photo: 5 Paul Fernow went 4 for 4 with a pair of RBIs in his final game as a Badger

The Prescott Badgers baseball season came to an end in Tucson when the Sahuaro Cougars scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh, pulling out an 8-7 win.

The Badgers went up 1-0 in the second, but gave up two in the bottom of the inning, to fall behind 2-1. Prescott battled back to go ahead 4-2 in the third. The lead would hold up until the Cougars chased Adrian Sanderford in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Elliot came in for relief, but Sahuaro regained the lead 5-4.

Elliot would be the victim of a costly error for the Badgers, as two unearned runs would score, giving Sahuaro a 7-4 lead going into the final inning.

The Badgers battled back with three runs to tie the game at seven, but could not push a go ahead run across. Once again, it was an unearned run that did Prescott in, when the Cougars got the winning run in the bottom of the inning off of Tristan McKown.

Paul Fernow had a big day, nearly hitting for the cycle, scored a run on four hits, two singles, a double, and a triple, plus two RBIs. Ryan Elliot took over in the leadoff spot for the injured Sam Strasser, getting three hits and an RBI. Cooper Magnett had a single with two RBIs. Adrian Sanderford scored and had two singles.

Two other seniors closed out their Badger careers. Lukas Barrett scored twice with a single and RBI. Luke Carmick singled and scored.

Despite outhitting the Cougars 14-9, Prescott dropped their 4^th straight to Division 4A playoff teams, finishing the 2023 season with a record of (13-10).

SAHUARO COUGARS 8, PRESCOTT BADGERS 7

Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E

Prescott 013 000 3 – 7 14 2

Sahuaro 020 032 1 – 8 9 3

WP:Solis

LP:McKown

DIVISION 4A PLAYOFF SCORES (PLAY-IN ROUND)

Sahuaro 8, PRESCOTT 7

Poston Butte 2, Thunderbird 0

Rio Rico 8, Arcadia 7

ALA-Queen Creek 7, Flowing Wells 6

Mica Mountain 7, Vista Grande 4