The Boyd Bronco baseball team suffered its first loss Friday night against Franklin North, 3-2, ending its five-game winning streak.
The Broncos were sluggish most of the night, leaving multiple players on base, and Franklin North took advantage of the Boyd miscues. The Broncos were led by a solid performance by Brady McCormack and Isaiah Owens, who each went 2-for-3. Jace Brantley suffered the loss for the Broncos, despite a solid performance in relief.
Franklin North got the scoring started in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single and an RBI double to lead 2-0 going into the bottom of the inning.
Boyd answered in the bottom of the first with a run of its own courtesy of an RBI single by Owens, scoring Branson Wells. But that’s all the damage the Broncos would do as they went into the second trailing 2-1.
Neither team scored in the second, and Franklin North couldn’t get anything going in the top of the third, and Boyd took advantage in the bottom of the inning. After a couple of singles to start the bottom of the inning by Owens, Jace Brantley and McCormack to load the bases, Justin Brantley tied the game 2-2 with an RBI single to center field, scoring McCormack. The Broncos now had momentum on their side for the first time.
Jace Brantley came on in relief for McCormack in the top of the fourth, and shut down Franklin North with impressive pitching. Boyd needed to answer in the bottom of the inning, but the bats weren’t connecting.
Going into the fifth and final inning, the score remained tied 2-2. Franklin North took the lead 3-2 in the top of the fifth, leaving the Broncos with one final chance to save their undefeated record.
The Broncos went down in order, and ultimately suffered their first loss in a nail-biter 3-2.
The Broncos will look to start a new winning streak when they play host to the Grundy County Yellow Jackets at home this Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.