ETNA – The Etna Lions baseball squad started the day tied with the Burney Raiders for the Shasta Cascade League lead, at 5-1. By the end of their double-header with the Fall River Bulldogs, on Tuesday, Etna had slipped into a tie for second place with Trinity, at 6-2. Fall River won the first game 10-5. The Lions bounced back to win game-two in nine innings, 4-3.

After a poor performance in game-one, the Lions came roaring back in game-two. Both teams had a base runner in each of the first three innings, but were unable to score. After retiring the Bulldogs in order in the top of the fourth inning, including two strikeouts by Lion pitcher Logan Dysert, Etna broke the ice in the bottom half.

Clint Johnson led off the inning with a no-doubter to left-center field, putting Etna up 1-0. Trevor Kendrick reached on an error, but was erased, when Trevor Eastlick reached on a fielder’s choice. Beau Branson walked, and Eastlick moved to second base. Skyler Schneider laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up one base a piece. Taylor Pehle-Munson then hammered a 340 foot single off the center field fence, to drive in Branson and Eastlick, making it 3-0, after four innings.

Fall River had runners on first and second base with one out in the top of the fifth, and first and third with two outs, but were unable to push a run across home plate. Fall River also had a man in scoring position in the top of the sixth, but did not score. Etna also failed to score in the fifth and sixth innings.

Dysert struck out the lead off Bulldog batter in the top of the seventh inning. However, the next two batters singled. The fourth batter of the inning was intentionally walked to load the bases. The next batter singled, getting Fall River on the board, and making the score 3-1. Another Bulldog single scored two more runs, and tied the score 3-3.

Clint Johnson came in to relieve Dysert, with runners on first and third, and one out. Johnson struck out the first batter he faced, but walked the next Bulldog to load the bases again. Johnson ended the threat with another strikeout.

Jordan Pehle-Munson walked to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, Dysert singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. But, an Etna fly out, and two strikeouts sent the game to extra innings.

The Bull Dogs’ lead off batter grounded out in the top of the eighth inning, and Johnson sent the next two batters to the pine looking. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Schneider singled and advanced to third base on a pair of steals. An Etna pop out and strikeout ended the inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, the first two Bulldogs struck out, and the third batter flew out to right-field.

Jordan Pehle-Munson led off the bottom of the ninth with a single. With one out, Johnson hammered a ball to deep center-field scoring Munson, and giving the lions a 4-3 win.

Johnson led the Lion offense in game-two, going 3-5, with a home run, and two RBI. For the Lions, Taylor Pehle-Munson went 2-4, with two RBI. Branson was 2-3, with a run, and a walk. Jordan Pehle-Munson went 2-4, with a run, and a walk. Schneider had a pair of sac bunts, two steals, and went 1-2.

Dysert got the start on the hill, with no decision (6 2/3IP, 3ER, 7H, 4BB, 7K, HB). Johnson pitched 2 2/3 innings and picked up the win (0R, 0H, BB, 6K).

Johnson started and was tagged with the loss in game-one, for the Lions. Offensively, Johnson went 2-4, with two doubles, a run scored, and an RBI. Greg Monday and Dysert each went 1-4, with a run, a double, and a steal.