Failure to protect

VILLE PLATTE – The Sacred Heart Trojans failed to protect a late one run lead as the Hick Pirates raided Aswell-Cappell and stole an 11-8 win Monday afternoon.
With the loss, Sacred Heart falls to 7-9-1 on the season. The Trojans will be back in action today when they host South Beauregard at 4:30 p.m.
Hicks got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. A one out single was followed by back-to-back two out singles to load the bases.
Brock Beaubouef followed with a double, scoring two runs. The bleeding was stopped when Cayden Cowgill was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base on a superb relay throw from Trojan shortstop Alec Gotro.
Undaunted, Sacred Heart found enough offense in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. A one out double off of the bat of Garrett Fontenot was followed by a single from JT Harper, giving the Trojans runners at first and third.
A stolen base by Harper preceded a double by Christian Duplechin. The double to right-centerfield by Duplechin plated both Fontenot and Harper.
Gabe Fontenot singled putting runners on first and third once again. Gotro laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, scoring Duplechin. A strike out ended the at bat for the Trojans.
Neither team could duplicate their opening offensive production in the second inning, as both Hicks and Sacred Heart were sent down in order.
The Pirates tied the game up in the top of the third inning, generating a single run. The unearned run came when Dylan Williams was hit by a pitch, stole second and third and then came across to score on a sacrifice bunt.
After holding the Trojans scoreless in the bottom of the third, Hicks regained the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring two more runs. Once again, the runs produced by the Pirates came with no hits, making it three unearned runs in a row given up by Sacred Heart.
The Trojans cut the Hick’s advantage down to one run, 5-4, when they were able to plate a single run of their own. Gotro singled and stole second base. After two unfruitful at bats that produced outs, Nick Perry singled home Gotro.
Hicks increased their advantage back to two in the top of the fifth inning when they were able to scratch across another run.
However, Sacred Heart did not flinch answering with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
A one out error put Harper at first base. Duplechin was struck with a pitch, giving the Trojans runners at first and second.
That’s when Gabe Fontenot strode to the plate and blasted a two strike pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homerun, putting Sacred Heart up 7-6.
That lead did not last for very long. The Pirates came out swinging the bats in the top of the sixth, collecting five runs on three hits. The big hit came with two outs when Trace Williams belted a three-run home run of his own.
Sacred Heart failed to plate any runs in the bottom of the sixth. After holding the Pirates scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Trojans tried to mount a comeback in their final at bat.
Gabe Fontenot singled and moved to second on a single by Gotro. After a pop fly out to the third baseman, Connor Bordelon was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Sacred Heart.
Nick Perry lifted a fly ball to center field deep enough to score Fontenot on the tag up. Unfortunately for the Trojans, the rally was snuffed out after only one run.
Gabe Fontenot led all Trojan hitters going 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBI. Gotro was 2 for 3 with an RBI.