MARTINSVILLE – Bedford North Lawrence scored three runs in the top of the seventh to stop Martinsville 7-4 during high school baseball action on Friday.
The Stars (9-5) broke a 4-4 deadlock with their go-ahead rally, scoring all three runs with two outs. Cam Gates reached on an error to force in the first run, and Tyler Stigall followed with a key two-run single for insurance runs.
Cal Gates started the seventh with a one-out walk and stole second. With two outs, Kline Woodward (who already had a home run) was intentionally walked, and both runners pulled off a double steal. Ryker Hughes was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Cam Gates and Stigall.
“We were able to steal some bases, get some guys in motion,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “We took advantage of some steals and got a big pinch hit from Tyler. I would have taken a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, but you feel a lot better with three.”
BNL took a 2-0 lead in the first when Cal Gates walked and Woodward launched his home run to center. The Stars added a run in the third when Cade Mungle singled, courtesy runner Cam Gates went to third on a wild pitch, and he scored on Trace Rynders’ infield single.
The Artesians (2-13) battled back with two runs in the second (two walks and a hit batter, a wild pitch and Hunter Stroud’s RBI single) and a tying run in the third (Alex Kush doubled and later scored on an error).
The Stars retook the lead with a run in the fourth as Mungle singled, then Stigall (as a courtesy runner) stole second and scored on two wild pitches. Martinsville pulled even in the fifth on a Kush walk, Rhys Wolf double and Jaxton Proctor sacrifice fly on a liner to center.
Woodward and Mungle had two hits each. Mungle worked the first five on the mound, striking out seven, before Isaac Daria came on in relief and earned the win. Woodward got the final out on a strikeout with two runners on.
“We pieced it together,” Callahan said. “Cade gutted it out and got us five deep. Daria did a nice job, and Kline was able to get the strikeout to end it. That’s what we needed. It was good to get a win.”
BNL will compete in the Raider Hardball Classic at Southridge on Saturday, facing Southridge in the opener at 11 a.m. Evansville Mater Dei will meet Northview in the second game. The first-round losers will play the consolation game at 4:30 p.m., and the winners will collide in the final at 6:30.
