Pios outlast Erath in slugfest

ERATH – When the Notre Dame Pios are swinging the bats well, they are difficult to beat.
Monday, they were swinging exceptionally well.
The Pios banged out 12 hits, including three doubles and two home runs, and were able to overcome an early six-run deficit and slip away with a wild 12-10 victory over Erath at the Bobcats’ home field.
“We kind of let things get out of hand early on, but we really did a good job of getting ourselves back in the game with our offense,” said ND coach Steve Soper, whose team improved to 12-8 on the season and 3-0 in District 6-3A. “That’s one of the great things about us this year: with our offense, we’re never out of games.”
The Pios pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning before the Bobcats answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game.
Erath seized the momentum in the bottom of the third by plating six more runs off Pios’ starter Chase McBride. The frame started with a walk. Back-to-back bunt singles then loaded the bases for the Bobcats.
The Pios aided in the big inning by committing two errors, one on a double play ball. The other error was on a rundown.
The momentum quickly shifted back in the Pios’ favor in the top of the next frame.
Two hits and a walk eventually led to the first run of the third inning crossing the plate on a wild pitch. Taylor Faulk then singled in a run to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 8-4.
The big blow of the inning, however, occurred two batters later after a walk to Sam Hoffpauir loaded the bases. Joe Faulk stepped to the plated and drilled the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a grand slam to tie the game at 8-all.
“To come back after their big inning and match it with the same output was really big for us,” said Soper. “More than likely, the first pitch from a reliever is going to be a fastball and usually the first pitch of an at bat is going to be the best pitch.
“We always tell our guys to be aggressive early in the count and that’s what he (Faulk) went up to the plate looking to do.”
Erath regained the lead one inning later by plating one run, but Hoffpauir tied the game back up at 9-all with a solo home run in the top of the fifth on a 2-2 count.
The Pios added their final three runs in the top of the sixth inning.
With two outs, Pete Brown singled to left field to start things. Dillian Gilbert then drew a walk and a double steal moved the runners up for Taylor Faulk, who delivered a two-run double to the left center field gap. Jacques Thibodeaux followed with an RBI single to left field to give the Pios a 12-9 advantage.
“Our lineup has really been able to produce runs this year and it seems like every night, it’s a different guy,” said Soper. “Taylor is definitely one of staples in the middle of our order who has gotten some key, timely hits for us.”
The Bobcats added a run in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out. But back-to-back flyouts ended the threat and the game.
Taylor Faulk and Brown paced the Pios at the plate with three hits each while Dillan Gilbert, who also had a diving catch for the third out in the sixth inning, went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. Thibodeaux, Hoffpauir, Joe Faulk and Nick Hanks each had one hit.
David Frank, pitching in relief of McBride, logged the victory after surrendering two runs on three hits and one walk. He hit two batters and struck out one in six innings of work.
“To come into the game in a tough situation and really keep us in it and give our offense a chance to do some damage was huge,” said Soper of Frank. “That’s one thing that David has done the whole year - come in and give us a chance to get back in the game or hold on to leads. He’s done a great job.”
The Pios and the Bobcats will square off again today in a 5:30 p.m. contest at Miller Stadium.