Northern Tier Sports ReportATHENS — Towanda baseball dropped an 8-7 walk-off NTL contest to Athens on Saturday.
The Wildcats led 1-0 after one, with a defensive battle ensuing after that.
Athens got another run in the bottom of the fifth, with Towanda scoring two in the top of the sixth to even things up.
The Wildcats rallied with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-2 lead.
The Knights came back with a 5-run seventh to go up 7-6.
Athens, though, rallied with two runs in the bottom half for the walk-off win.
Lucas Vincent (2-for-3) had two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI For the Knights, as Gage Evans (1-for-2) had a double with 3-RBI, and a run scored.
Shane Maghamez (2-for-4) scored a run with Brad Assante crossing home twice.
Harper Welles (1-for-2) scored a run, as Avery Butts (1-for-4) drove in a run.
Maghamez started, and went 5 1/3-innings with one strikeout, four walks, seven hits, and six earned runs.
Boom Thompson pitched the final 1 1/3-innings to take the loss. He struck out one with six walks, one hit, and three earned runs.
Brenden Cooke (2-for-2) had a home run for Athens.
In the top of the sixth Assante reached on an error to start the Towanda rally.
Vincent then doubled, followed by Evans drawing a walk to load the bases.
Athens would get a double play, but Assante and Vincent both later scored on passed balls during the same at bat to tie the game up.
Hudson Stevens led off the top of the seventh with a walk.
After an out Welles was hit by a pitch, followed by Maghamez loading the bases with a hit.
Stevens would get out at home on a fielder’s choice, but Vincent was hit by a pitch to bring home Welles for a 6-3 game.
Evans then rocked a 3-run double to knot the game up at 6-all.
Butts would single in Evans to put the Knights up 7-6.
In the top of the seventh Athens used three walks to load the bases.
Thompson would get a strikeout to put the Wildcats on the brink, but a passed ball allowed Athens to tie the game up.
A Nick Grazul double brought in the game winning run for the Wildcats.
Towanda (6-9) travels to CV on Tuesday.
