Indians win Region Opener at Monroe Area

The Stephens County Indians won the Region-8 opener on Tuesday night winning a pitcher’s duel 2-1 at Monroe Area.

Nick Randall pitched an outstanding game allowing only one unearned run and one hit, while striking out 10 and walking 4 over six innings of work. Garrett Pless got the save with a scoreless 7th inning. Randall is now 4-0 on the season with an ERA less than one.

Randall also helped himself at the plate driving in the Indians first run with a sacrifice fly that scored Craig Thurmond in the top of the 1st. The Indians scored again in the 2nd inning when Bailey Stowe’s RBI single drove home Colby Fowler. Fowler had led off the inning with a double.

The Indians offense was stymied by Purple Hurricanes pitcher Isaac Rivas after the 2nd inning with only two hits coming after the 2nd inning. Rivas pitched all 7 innings for Monroe Area and took the loss allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and striking out 5.

Monroe Area’s lone run came in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Robbie Gay walked and scored on an error.

With the win the Indians improve to 1-0 in region play and 9-3 overall. Monroe Area falls to 0-1 in the region and 5-7 overall.

The two teams will meet again in a doubleheader scheduled for Thursday at Stephens County High School. Game one is scheduled for 5 P.M. with game two to be played 20 minutes after the completion of game one. Airtime Thursday is 4:45 P.M. on WNEG.