The River Ridge baseball team jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third inning, but a five-run third and clutch defense for Central Kitsap led the Cougars to an 9-8 victory Tuesday in Silverdale.
After Kellen Lentz picked up an RBI with a sacrifice in the first inning, the Hawks delivered two runs with two outs in the second. D’Vaughntae Sellman recorded an RBI single, and Ryder Denham scored on a passed ball.
Central Kitsap responded with a two-run single in the second. Bono Larkin, who went 3 of 4 at the plate against Mount Tahoma Tuesday, stayed hot in the third, plating two on a double to right field to put River Ridge up 5-2.
But before the Hawks could get the first out of the bottom of the third, seven consecutive batters reached base, and the Cougars had scored five runs to take a 7-5 lead.
Larkin once again delivered in the clutch, drilling an RBI single in the fifth to cut the margin to one. After the Cougars gave themselves a cushion with a two-run fifth, the Hawks left the bases loaded in the sixth inning.
With two outs in the top of the seventh and trailing three runs, River Ridge clawed back into the contest by way of a two-run double by Sellman. But with the tying run at second base, Felix Lopez flew out to end the game.
Larkin finished with three hits and three RBIs for the second consecutive game, and Sellman logged three RBIs on a 2-for-4 day.
River Ridge (9-9, 6-9 Puget Sound League) will host Elma Friday for its final non-league contest before Silas comes to town Monday, May 4 on senior night.
