By Staff
Buchanan gave the Division 3 No. 5-ranked River Valley Mustangs all they could handle in the first game of a Lakeland Conference doubleheader Monday afternoon.
The Bucks led 2-1 until the Mustangs pulled ahead with three runs in the fifth inning and added one more in the sixth. Buchanan cut the lead to 5-4 with two more runs in the sixth inning.
In the end, however, River Valley scored twice in the top of the seventh and held the Bucks scoreless in the bottom of the inning for the 7-4 win.
Steve Terry earned the victory on the mound for River Valley. He lasted the entire five innings and tossed three strikeouts.
Jeremy Lucas (1-1) took the loss for Buchanan. He pitched the first six innings and Josh Wahlstrom came on to close the game.
River Valley (4-1, 1-0) managed six hits and committed just two errors.
Buchanan recorded five hits but made six mistakes.
Wahlstrom went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a double, and scored twice. Justin Helt added a two-RBI single.
Keith Zabel paced the Mustangs on offense with a triple and three runs scored. Paul Reitz also had two hits for Valley.
The second game was tied 2-2 at the end of the fifth inning when it got too dark to continue playing. The game will be completed at a later date.
P.J. Pollock singled in two runs for Buchanan and Zabel hit another single before the game was cut short.
Buchanan, now 3-4 overall and 0-1 in league play, travels to Dowagiac Friday for a 4 p.m. non-conference contest.