Sports Writer

LUVERNE – Rusty Tomlin’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the game winning run as the Luverne High School Tigers edged the Pike County High School Bulldogs 7-6 in the area opener for both teams in Class 3A late Thursday afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-1 in area play) got on the board when Josh Price slammed a three run homer over the left field fence to give Pike County a 3-1 lead.

After the Tigers (3-1, 1-0) exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-3 lead, Pike County started to slowly chip away tying the game by scoring single runs in each of the

next three innings. The Bulldogs scored their run in the top of the fourth when Dee Price scored on Chris Nickson’s sacrifice fly. In the top of the fifth, Pike County cut the deficit to one run when Josh Daniels walked and stole second before scoring on Price’s RBI single.

On inning later, the Bulldogs tied the game at 6-6 when Joshua Price scored on a RBI walk by Evans. However, the rally

ended by Elijah Daniels was a called out on a close play at first base on a grounder to

shortstop ending the inning.

However, the Tigers went ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth when Jeffery Hillburn hit into a force play and scored on Tomlin’s RBI double into the right center field gap. The Bulldogs were unable to get a rally going in the top of the seventh as the Tigers hung on for the win.

The Bulldogs return to action on Monday afternoon when they host the Carroll (Ozark) High School Eagles. The first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in Brundidge.