BASEBALL

No. 5 Consol blanks Copperas Cove: Sophomore right-hander Riley Ferrell struck out 12 in leading the fifth-ranked A&M Consolidated Tigers to a 7-0 victory over Copperas Cove in District 12-5A action at Tiger Field on Thursday.

The Tigers (17-3, 6-0) used timely hitting and smart base running to score three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to top Copperas Cove (10-12, 1-5), which had been scheduled to play host to Consol, but wind damage to its field forced the game to be moved.

Jonathan Schmitz walked to open Consol's third. Shelby Robinson, who was 3 for 3, singled. Ford Moore's drag bunt loaded the bases. Kevin Bishop's grounder to second scored a run, and when the Bulldawgs mishandled the throw, another run scored. Moore came home on a passed ball.

Consol proved opportunistic again in the fourth. Travis Gardner was hit by a pitch. Gardner moved to second on Gabe Contreras' bunt and stole third. Schmitz's sacrifice fly made it 4-0. Robinson singled and stole second. Moore had an RBI double and scored on two passed balls.

"We did some good things in moving guys over," Consol coach Chase Mann said.

Ferrell walked one and allowed seven hits.

"We played good defense behind Riley when they did hit the ball," Mann said.

Consol 7, Copperas Cove 0

Copperas Cove 000 000 0--0 7 3

Consol 003 310 x--7 5 0

Garrett and Hoffman. Riley Ferrell and Jonathan Schmitz, Grant Singleton (7). W -- Ferrell. L -- Garrett.

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Rudder rallies for district win: CALDWELL -- Trailing by four runs after two innings, Rudder scored nine unanswered runs to beat Caldwell 11-9 in District 24-3A action Thursday.

Rudder's Tyler Matcek (6-0) entered the game in the fourth inning and earned the victory.

Rudder's Blake Kopetsky had a triple and two RBIs, and starting pitcher Matt Smith recorded a double and three RBIs.

Rudder (17-3, 6-1) leads 24-3A and will host Rockdale at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Rudder 11, Caldwell 9

Rudder 021 041 3--11 11 4

Caldwell 420 000 3--9 7 2

Matt Smith, Tyler Matcek (4), Blake Kopetsky (7), Kyle Danford (7) and Tim Dodehl, Smith (4). Muzny, Cumby (6) and Krasnic. W -- Matcek (6-0). L -- Muzny. S -- Kopetsky.

Leading Hitters: RUDDER -- Kopetsky 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI; Smith 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Matt Voneiff 2-4, (2) 2B, 2 RBI; Charlston Samuel 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI.

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Bryan wins with early runs: With hits at a minimum, Bryan managed two runs in each of the first two innings and held on for the 4-0 victory over Harker Heights Thursday night.

Ty Culbreth (5-1) had eight strikeouts in the win.

Matt Beier had a single that scored two, while Kray Bratsen added an RBI-single for the Vikings.

Bryan (12-9-1, 3-3) will travel to Belton for a 7 p.m. match on Tuesday.

Bryan 4, Harker Heights 0

Heights 000 000 0--0 4 1

Bryan 220 000 x--4 5 0

Hansen and Havens. Ty Culbreth and Jacob Huckabay. W -- Culbreth (5-1). L -- Hansen (3-1).

Leading Hitters: BRYAN -- Matt Beier 2 RBI-single; Kray Bratsen RBI-single.

SOFTBALL

Bryan blasts Harker Heights: The Bryan Lady Vikings scored seven first-inning runs en route to a 10-0, run-rule victory over Harker Heights on Thursday in District 12-5A action.

Emily Peirce (8-5) pitched three shutout innings to pick up the victory.

Patty Gorzycki went 5-for-5 with two RBIs, while Ashley Lara had a triple and scored two runs. Brooke Parker added a double, two RBIs and two runs.

Bryan (20-7, 8-0) will play at A&M Consolidated at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Bryan 10, Harker Heights 0, 6 innings

Heights 000 000--0 2 4

Bryan 711 001--10 14 2

Kristie Hagey and Vanessa Espinoza. Emily Peirce, Brittney Jones (4) and Reagan Boenker. W -- Peirce (8-5). L -- Hagey.

Leading Hitters: BRYAN -- Patty Gorzycki 5-5, 2 RBI, run; Ashley Lara 3-4, 3B, 2 runs; Brooke Parker 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 runs.

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Lady Tigers handed second district loss: BELTON -- A&M Consolidated's Sarah Allison tied the game with a second-inning home run, but Belton answered for a 7-3 victory in District 12-5A action Thursday.

Sarah Halliwell and Jordan Berry each had RBIs for 10th-ranked Consol, with Berry's coming on a double in the sixth that scored Sydney Parks.

Consol (21-4, 6-2) will try to rebound when it hosts crosstown rival Bryan at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Belton 7, A&M Consolidated 3

AMC 010 002 0--3 5 3

Belton 130 120 x--7 9 0

Sarah Halliwell and Sarah Allison. Allison Boston and Ashley Bucher. W -- Boston. L -- Halliwell (10-6).

Leading Hitters: AMC -- Sarah Allison 2-3, HR, RBI; Sydney Parks 1-2, 2B, run; Jordan Berry 1-3, 2B, RBI, run; Sarah Halliwell 1-3, RBI.

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Rudder loses on the road: CALDWELL -- Caldwell used a five-run sixth inning to defeat Rudder 10-4 on Thursday night in District 24-3A action.

Allison Alford improved to 4-2 for Caldwell and added a double and two RBIs at the plate. Relief pitcher Hollie Chennault had two triples and a pair of RBIs while Mariah Landolt added two doubles and an RBI for Caldwell (14-6, 5-3).

Rudder will host Rockdale, while Caldwell will play at Navasota at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Caldwell 10, Rudder 4

Rudder 010 002 1--4 9 2

Caldwell 011 305 x--10 12 5

H. Parker and K. Emery; Allison Alford, Hollie Chennault (7) and Callee Norman. W -- Alford (4-2). L -- Parker.

Leading Hitters: RUDDER -- A. Fazzino 2-3, 2B; H. Parish 1-4, 2B; K. Morsko 1-3, 2B, RBI; H. Hoffman 1-4, RBI. CALDWELL -- Chennault 3-4, (2) 3B, 2 RBI; Mariah Landolt 2-4, (2) 2B, RBI; Alford 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Norman 2-3; Ashlee Hollis 1-4, RBI.

-- Eagle staff reports