The Latta Vikings hosted the Hartsville Red Foxes on Monday night for an 8-1 loss in varsity baseball action.

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Latta took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with Jackson Williams reaching on a single, advancing on a single from John Kever Love, and scoring on a double from Cledus Williams.

But Hartsville responded with four runs in the top of the second, with Matt Lynch singling, stealing second, and advancing on an error that allowed Jake Beasley to reach base. Lynch scored on a play to tie the game, and Beasley advanced to third on a grounder. Nic M. was hit by a pitch and stole second to put two runners on base, and a single from Grant Thompson allowed both to score. Christopher Weekley followed with a triple to score Thompson, but Toby Burchfield struck out to end the inning with Hartsville up 4-1.

Neither team could score through the next few innings. In the top of the third with one out, Lynch reached on a walk for Hartsville, but the Vikings made a double play to end the inning quickly. In the bottom of the inning, Jackson Williams and John Kever Love both singled, but an out and two grounders sent the Red Foxes to bat. In the fifth, Burchfield was hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third with a single and a balk, but couldn’t cross the plate, and in the bottom of the inning, Colby Lee doubled and advanced to third on an error before the next two batters lined out to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Hartsville struck again with four runs. Beasley and Cal B. both singled to reach base, and Beasley scored on a play. Weekley singled to reach base, and Burchfield hit a triple to score the runners before being brought in by a single from Lynch to give Hartsville an 8-1 lead. In the bottom, Cledus Williams singled and advanced on a single from Austin Miller but went out on the way to third. Hartsville’s Lynch struck out two batters to end the inning.

In the seventh, Beasley singled and advanced on a grounder but was put out on the way to third with a fly ending the inning for the Red Foxes. In the bottom of the seventh, Lynch got two outs and Eric McGirt ground out to end the game.

Burchfield got the win on the mound for Hartsville, pitching five innings for six hits, one run, one earned run, one walk, and eight outs. Lynch pitched two innings for two hits and four outs.

Love took the loss for Latta, pitching six innings for 11 hits, eight runs, four earned runs, two walks, and four outs. Lee pitched one inning of relief, allowing one hit.

At bat for Hartsville, Lynch went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored; Burchfield went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, and one run; Beasley went 2-for-4 with two runs; Weekley went 2-for-4 with a triple, one RBI, and one run; Thompson went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run; Cal B. went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run; Chandler M. went 1-for-3; and Nic M. went 1-for-2 with one run. Hartsville had 12 hits and one error in the win.

For the Vikings, Cledus Williams went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI; Love went 2-for-3; Jackson Williams went 2-for-3 with one run; Lee went 1-for-4 with a double; and Miller went 1-for-2. Latta had eight hits and one error in the effort.

The Vikings slipped to 2-2 on the season and ware scheduled to travel to Hannah-Pamplico tonight. On Friday, the Vikings will be back home to host Green Sea-Floyds at 5:30 p.m. to open region play.

Photos by Jill Sanderson Tyndall. Click the images below to view at full size!