Natchitoches Central couldn’t muster quite enough offense to advance to the state quarterfinals in the LHSAA Non-Select Division I baseball playoffs, but Central of Baton Rouge didn’t have much more.
After the visiting Wildcats (26-9) scratched out a 3-2 win in the best-of-3 series opener Thursday night at Chad Hargis Field, they rallied in the bottom of the seventh Friday night for another 3-2 decision, ending the No. 7-ranked Chiefs’ season at 25-9.
Tenth-seeded Central trailed 2-0 going to its last at-bat, but rallied with a small ball attack to prevail.
NCHS broke open a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Titus Williams tripled and scored on Yancy Spillman’s RBI ground out.
The Chiefs made it 2-0 an inning later on an RBI single from Dillon Braxton scoring Owen Smith, who reached on an error that sent him to second base.
NCHS left-hander Ross Lindsey was lights out, giving up only two hits and striking out 10 in six innings. But after he issued a leadoff walk to the Wildcats on his 112th pitch in the seventh, he gave way to ace reliever Harper Marcotte, who had nine saves and was allowing opposing batters to hit just .161.
The Wildcats got a base hit to put runners at first and second, then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away, allowing a run to score and sending Central’s two baserunners into scoring position. On a full count, the visitors came up with a base hit to right field that plated the tying and decisive run.
Williams had two of the Chiefs’ five hits, adding a double. The Wildcats managed only four.