Woodland edged in battle of Wildcats

The Woodland Wildcats lost at the Villa Rica Wildcats 3-2 Thursday evening on a walk-off, two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Wesley Gaines singled with two outs to start the Villa Rica seventh and a walk moved him to second base. After Gaines stole third base, Mason Westmoreland followed with a single to center field for the dramatic finish.

Villa Rica scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a pair of walks and two hits and the game remained 2-0 until Woodland knotted the score in the top of the seventh.

Rowan Billings and Chase Carson singled to open the Woodland seventh and pinch runner Conner Lujan, running for Billings, scored on a passed ball. Mason Williams followed with a double into center field but Carson was cut down at the plate trying to score. After Williams moved over to third on a ground out, Luke Evans singled him home to tie the score.

Coby Barrett (2.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss for Woodland in relief of starter Hunter Shirley (4 IP, 2ER, 2H, 4BB, 3K).

Woodland totaled eight hits in the loss.

Carson and Julian Wright had two hits each. Jakiyon Porter, Billings, Evans, and Williams had the other safeties.

Woodland (1-2) hosts Chapel Hill Saturday at 1 p.m.