The Wild Gators fell 6-5 to the visiting Mullins Auctioneers on Monday night in Lake View.

The Auctioneers’ Stroud kicked off the game by making it to base on an error. Timmons walked and stole second while Stroud stole third. Swinton hit a single to bring in both Stroud and Timmons to put Mullins ahead 2-0. Then a single from Ard was enough to bring Swinton all the way home to put Mullins up 3-0 in the top of the first.

Chris Ford was hit by the pitch from Odom to lead off Lake View’s first at bat. He stole second, but was tagged out on the way to third. Eric Munoz also made it to base on a hit by pitch, and was brought in by a double from Hunter Walters. John Michael Brown also doubled to bring in Walters, and Darius Leonard singled to bring in Brown, tying the game at 3-3.

Lake View and Mullins held each other off for the second and third innings, but in the top of the fourth, Mullins’ Ard made it to base on a hit by pitch and stole second. Gerald reached base on error to advance Ard to third, and Goodyear singled to bring in both to put Mullins ahead 5-3. Leonard doubled for Lake View in the bottom of the inning and made it as far as third before the inning ended.

The Gators held Mullins off again in the top of the fifth, allowing just one single from Odom. Ford reached on an error in the bottom of the inning and stole second. Nate Lewis and Munoz both flew out to left field for outs, but Ford reached third on Munoz’s at bat. Walters singled to bring Ford home, but Brown hit to the pitcher and went out at first to end the inning with Lake View still trailing 5-4.

Brown struck out Mullins’ Ard and Gerald in the top of the sixth, but Goodyear reached on error and scored on a double from McGill to improve the Auctioneer lead to 6-4. Mullins held off Lake View in the bottom of the inning, and in the top of the seventh, Mullins’ Timmons walked and stole second and third. Odom hit a fly to right field and was put out, and Brown struck out Foxworth and Swinton to end the threat.

Roger Scott opened the Gators’ final at bat with a fly to center for an out. Ford singled, but a fly from Lewis left him stranded at first with two outs. Munoz hit a double to bring in Ford to leave the Gators trailing 6-5, and Walters hit to left field but was tagged out at first to end the game.

Odom picked up the win on the mound for Mullins, pitching all seven innings and facing 31 batters for seven hits, five runs, four earned runs, one walk, two outs, and three hit by pitch.
Nate Lewis and John Michael Brown split the pitching duties for Lake View. Lewis pitched three innings and faced 16 batters for two hits, five runs, one earned run, four outs, and two walks. Brown pitched four innings, facing 16 batters for three hits, one run, one walk, and five outs.

At bat for Mullins, Swinton went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored; Goodyear went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored; Ard went 1-for-2 with an RBI and one run scored; McGill went 1-for-3 with an RBI; Odom went 1-for-4; and Stroud, Timmons, and Gerald each scored one run. The Auctioneers had five hits and one error in the win.

At bat for Lake View, Hunter Walters went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double, and one run scored; Darius Leonard went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a double, and a stolen base; Eric Munoz went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a double, and one run scored and was hit by pitch twice; John Michael Brown went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a double, and one run scored; and Chris For went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. The Gators had seven hits and three errors in the loss.

Lake View wraps up the regular season with an 11-5 overall record and a 9-3 record in Region 8-A.

The Wild Gators finished third in the region and will travel tonight to take on East Clarendon at 6:00 p.m. in the first round of the District VI playoffs. Depending on the outcome of Thursday’s games, the Gators will then face either Military Magnet or Allendale-Fairfax on Saturday, April 28. Check thedillonherald.com for the latest playoff updates!