Staff Writer

After suffering three losses in a row, the Greenville Tigers were looking to get back on the winning track with an important area game against the Opp Bobcats. What they found instead was a lineup with some pop in their bats as the Bobcats hit several homers en route to a 16-1 win over GHS on Monday at Beeland Park.

The game started innocently enough as Tigers' starting pitcher William Clark sat down the first three batters he faced with one of those going down by strikeout.

The Tigers' leadoff batter Thomas Wright made an attempt to bunt his way on, however the ball bounced straight to the pitcher's mound for an easy out. Vincent Savage and George Nick Autrey followed with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

The Bobcats took control in the second inning with a bases-loaded triple that brought home three runs, giving Opp a 3-0 lead.

Greenville got their first hit of the game in the second as second baseman William Phillips got the ball through the infield for a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. However, the starting pitcher for Opp was able to strike out the side to end the inning.

The Bobcats continued to add to their lead in the third with two more runs, making the score 5-0.

The Tigers continued having trouble making contact in their half of the third. After Clark led off with a strikeout, Elisha Freeman reached on a single. He advanced to second on another Opp wild pitch. Thomas Wright hit a groundball that allowed Freeman to advance to third base. But, with two outs, Savage struck out, stranding the runner.

In the fourth inning things got worse for the Tigers as two Opp batters went deep over the fence to make the score 9-0. With two outs, Greenville coach John Williamson went to the bullpen, bringing Autrey out of his shortstop position to pitch. He allowed one more baserunner to cross in the inning, increasing the Opp lead to 10-0.

Greenville got their only run of the game when leadoff batter Autrey belted a line-drive homerun to right-center field that hit the scoreboard. The homer cut the lead to 10-1. Ledyard Williamson also got on base in the fourth with a single; however, he was thrown out as he attempted to steal second base.

Autrey dominated the Bobcat batters in the top of the fifth as he struck out the side.

But the favor was returned in the bottom of the fifth as three

Tigers went down via the strikeout route.

Opp added a few more runs in the top of the sixth. When the game was over, Greenville was looking at a 16-1 defeat.

Greenville's overall record now stands at 3-7 and the loss puts them at 1-2 in their region. They still have area games scheduled with Opp, Andalusia and Hillcrest, which will be played on Friday in Evergreen at 4 p.m. They Tigers took on Pike County last night at Beeland Park.