Canes manage only one hit in loss at Ridgeland

Cartersville took an early 3-1 lead Thursday at Ridgeland before they ever got their first hit, but the Panthers scored three times in the fifth to come from behind and defeat the Purple Hurricanes, 4-3, in Rossville.

Ridgeland pitcher, Jalyn Shelton walked six in his complete game victory, but limited the Canes to only one hit in the contest.

Cartersville pitchers were almost as effective. Freshman starter Mason Barnett (4 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 5K), Zach Yancey (0.2 IP, 3R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB), and Spencer Dickey (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) combined to allow only three hits, four walks, and no earned runs, but on this day it was not enough.

The Canes committed four errors that contributed to all of the Panthers' runs.

Cartersville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first without benefit of a hit. Carrington Evans walked and came around to score when Parker Tidwell reached on an error.

Ridgeland scored a run in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a Cartersville error, to tie the game 1-1.

The Canes went up 3-1 in the top of the third. Elliott Anderson was hit by a pitch, Tidwell walked, and both baserunners scored when Yancey bunted and reached on an error by the Panthers' pitcher.

Ridgeland’s three-run fifth came on a pair of singles, two errors, two walks, and a sacrifice fly.

Yancey suffered the tough-luck pitching loss for the Canes despite not allowing an earned run.

Tidwell had the only Cartersville hit. It was a line drive single to right field to lead off the fifth inning, but the Canes did no further damage in the frame.

The Panthers improved to 13-9 overall and 6-5 in Region 7-AAAA with the victory. Cartersville (14-9, 10-2) slips a game behind Heritage-Catoosa on the loss side of the region standings. The Canes travel to Turner Field Friday for a non-region matchup with North Hall. They host their final two region games next week against Heritage-Catoosa Tuesday and LaFayette on Thursday. Both games are slated for 5:55pm starts.