Tigers sweep doubleheader

The Guaranty Bond Bank Tigers opened their home slate of the 2012 American Legion campaign with a pair of victories over Ashdown on Tuesday at George Dobson Field, 6-2 and 5-2.

Last Thursday, the Tigers (3-1) defeated Ashdown 5-1 in their season opener in the Swampy Graves Tournament, and have made significant strides, especially with regards to defense, over the Memorial Day weekend.

"We need to hit the ball a little bit better and score a few more runs," Tigers coach Greg Burt said. "Other than that, the defense has been real tight and I think we're going to have a real good year."

The Tigers return to action this weekend, taking part in the Louisiana Tech tournament Friday and Saturday.

Game 1

Tigers 6, Ashdown 2

Tiger pitcher Jordan Burt surrendered the game's first run when he balked, scoring Ashdown's Jay Surber.

Burt rectified that mistake by slapping a one-out triple down the right field line in the bottom of the second, scoring when Weston Smith drove him home with a blooper to right center an at-bat later.

In the third, Burt allowed a leadoff hit but then struck out three consecutive Ashdown batters to end the frame and finished with four strikeouts.

Trinity Christian's Davis Wilson, a SAU signee, relieved him in the fourth and struck out the side in the fifth, concluding his outing.

Jon Michael Cunningham started out the Tigers' half of the fifth with a base hit before being forced out at second on Jacob Kirkland's fielder's choice.

Trey Endsley then ripped in a double into the left field corner, setting up Trent Tucker's two-run double into left center.

That made it 3-1, and it became 4-1 when Burt's routine grounder to second was booted, allowing Tucker to race around.

The Tigers set the final in the sixth by plating two, one from a passed ball and the other by virtue of Cunningham's groundout.

Brett Hutson of DeKalb took over in the sixth, giving up a run on two hits, and Hunter Lewis of Fouke finished things up in the seventh. Hutson struck out one and Lewis fanned a pair.

"We wanted to get a lot of people on the mound, and everybody we threw out there did what we asked them to do," Burt said.

Game 1

Ashdown 010 001 0 - 2 4 2

Tigers 010 032 x - 6 8 2

Jay Surber, Hunter Pennington (6) and Colton Redfern; Jordan Burt, Davis Wilson (4), Brett Hutson (6), Hunter Lewis (7) and Trent Tucker. WP-Hutson; LP-Surber.

Game 2

Tigers 5, Ashdown 2, 5 innings

Briscoe Davis walked and scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the first for the Tigers, and his sacrifice fly in the third tied the game at 2 in a contest the Tigers eventually won.

Cunningham started and went the first two innings, striking out one while not giving up any hits.

Matthew Lusk relieved Cunningham, and gave up two runs in the third, although both were unearned because of a fielding error and a dropped fly ball in right field.

Down 2-1, the Tigers responded with four runs in the frame, eventually chasing starter Bradley Redfern. Hutson reached and Cunningham doubled him over to third. A Burt walk loaded the bases preceding Davis' sac fly RBI.

After a Jeremy Lockett strikeout, Weston Smith hit a two-run double to re-take the lead, and Nashville's Ryan Forte followed with a two-run single, plating Lusk, who had walked.

Lusk struck out the side in the fourth and finished off the combined no-hitter in the fifth. He ended his night fanning eight Panthers.

Ashdown 002 00 - 2 0 4

Tigers 104 0x - 5 3 3

Bradley Redfern, Trent Fricks (3), Drew Day (4) and Tyler Olson; Jon Michael Cunningham, Matthew Lusk (3) and Weston Smith. WP-Cunningham; LP-Fricks.

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