By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — There are walk-off hits and walk-off home runs, but how many times do you see a walk-off bunt?

Clay Applegate put down a squeeze bunt in the eighth inning to score Mike Avery as the Green Bobcats edged the Eastern Eagles 5-4 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.

Green had stranded 12 runners until finally pushing across the winning run.

Avery doubled to start the eight and went to third base on a wild pitch. Applegate – who went 4-5 on the day with two doubles and a triple — put down the squeeze bunt on the next pitch to end the game.

“Colton Brammer pitched well and Clay Applegate had a whale of a game. He carried us,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We played well in the late innings. We hung in there until we finally got a run across.”

Eastern took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and Green (13-5, 8-2) answered with two in the bottom of the inning.

Avery singled, stole second and scored on Applegate’s double. A throwing error on the play allowed Applegate to score.

The Bobcats took a 4-2 lead in the third when Applegate triple and Rob Applegate singled him home. Rob Applegate then stole second and came around on two wild pitches.

The Eagles got single runs in the fourth and fifth to tie the game and forced extra innings.

Avery was 3-5 with two doubles and Cody Bruce 1-1 with three walks.

Green visits Western on Monday.

Eastern 200 110 00 = 4 9 3

Green 202 000 01 = 5 11 3

Aaron Satterfield and A. Creech. Clay Applegate, Rob Applegate (3), Colton Brammer (4) and Matt Howard. W-Brammer (K-5, BB-0). L-Satterfield. 2B-Green: Clay Applegate 2, Mike Avery 2. 3B-Green: Clay Applegate. Hitting-Eastern: Satterfield 2-3, Watkins 2-4, Conley 1-4, Edler 1-4, T. Creech 2-4, A. Creech 1-4; Green: Mike Avery 3-5, Clay Applegate 4-5 2-rbi, Rob Applegate 1-4 rbi, Colton Brammer 1-3, Cody Bruce 1-1, Steve Ratcliff 1-4.