LOYD STAR — Bogue Chitto needed just two runs to tie Loyd Star in the bottom of the seventh inning and had the bases loaded with no outs. Hornets pitcher Blake Thornton came in relief and fanned two batters before getting a popup to the second baseman to hold on to a 5-3 win Tuesday night. 

Junior Caleb Smith did more than his part to generate offense for Loyd Star. He had four hits and one RBI in the game while teammates Nathan Mills and Garrett Carwyle had one hit each. The win moved the team to 7-1 to start the season. 

“It was good to get the win but we didn’t play like we have been playing,” Smith said. “With the bases loaded, my heart was beating. We had not been beaten by them in a minute. We have been playing well but we should have beaten them by more.” 

Loyd Star had nine hits in the ball game and left 16 runners stranded. Carter Holcomb was left on base five times, the most of any Hornet Tuesday night. 

Defensively, the Hornets gave up just eight hits and had one error while Bogue Chitto committed three errors. A home run by Myles Foil was the biggest offensive play the Bobcats made. 

Carwyle earned the win with six innings pitched and striking out seven batters. Thornton came on to make the save in the seventh inning and waved goodbye to the visiting Bobcats. Loyd Star will play at Bogue Chitto in a double header Friday night. 

“It depends on how close the game is and how intense the rivalry is in baseball,” Smith said. “Our hitting and fielding have been pretty solid. Hitting has been the key for us. We want to win the district and go to state ultimately. Bogue Chitto’s mound is tough but they don’t bother us. It doesn’t matter where we play, we usually play pretty good.” 

First pitch of the first double header game will be 4:30 p.m. at Bogue Chitto between the Hornets and Bobcats. The second game will start shortly after the first game ends.