Rugby Middle rallies late to upend Polk Middle

Rugby Middle rallied in the final innings Thursday to hand Polk County Middle a 10-5 defeat in Blue Ridge Conference baseball action at Polk County Recreation Complex.

The Raiders trailed 5-4 after five innings, but scored twice in the sixth and added four runs in the seventh to seal the win.

Rugby jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Wolverines (1-2-1) responded with a four-run second to even the score.

Piercen Edwards and Dayvion Stinson each drew walks with two outs in the second to begin the rally. Gunnar Alm followed with a double to drive in Edwards, with Avery Hensley’s single bringing home Stinson. Alm and Hensley then scored on Alex Perry’s base hit to even the game.

Polk then took the lead with a run in the third inning. Walks to Karlen McEntyre, Edwards and Stinson loaded the bases for Alm, who was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run.

Alm finished 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in two runs. He also pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief, striking out eight and allowing four hits and two earned runs. Hensley, the starter, gave up four hits and three earned runs in two innings.

Hensley was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Perry had a hit and two RBI. McEntyre was 1-for-2 with two stolen bases for the Wolverines.

Polk Middle travels to Apple Valley on Monday for its next matchup.