The Cougars held a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Vikings steered the ship upright to sail away with a 5-4 win in Petersburg.
East Hardy loaded the bases to start the game with singles by Mason Hamilton and Garrett Van Meter and a walk issued by Petersburg pitcher Peyton Metheny to Levi Price, but the Cougars came up empty as Metheny got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Petersburg’s Caden Arbaugh singled with one out, but was stranded on a line drive catch by center fielder Levi Price and a groundout by Colin Mauzy to third baseman Garrett Van Meter over to first baseman Shayne Sisler.
In the second inning, East Hardy’s Patrick Mills singled on a sharp grounder up the middle with two outs before being left on base with a fly out.
The Vikings went down in order as East Hardy pitcher Dayton Dove threw a strikeout before Lukas Wolford reached base on an error and thrown out trying to get to second base and a fly out to Mills ended the frame.
The Cougars pounced for three straight singles in the third inning by Mason Hamilton, Van Meter and Price.
East Hardy managed to capitalize on the bases loaded with Sisler hitting an RBI sacrifice fly to take a 1-nil edge, but the remaining pair were left on the pond on a strikeout to Jordan Teets and groundout by Mason Wilkins.
Petersburg failed to generate anything as Owen Reel grounded out, then Trace Rohrbaugh and Metheny flew out to Mills and Teets.
The Cougars snatched a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Dove was hit by a pitch, then stole second base and base runner Kaden Barnett came in for Dove.
After a groundout bunt by Mills failed to advance Barnett, Evan Hamilton ripped a single into center field to place runners on the corners for the Cougars.
Evan Hamilton swiped second base, then Mason Hamilton executed an RBI groundout plating Barnett as Evan advanced to third base.
Petersburg gave Van Meter an intentional walk.
Price crushed an RBI single into left field plating Evan Hamilton for the 3-nil advantage, then Sisler hit into a fielder’s choice out retiring the side.
Dove issued a walk to Arbaugh, who would steal around to third base.
Dove countered with a strikeout to Peyton Tingler on a foul tip caught by catcher Mason Hamilton.
Mazy drew a walk and McDonald was beaned to load the bases for Petersburg.
After a pop-out, a free pass to Kaleb Kuhn plated a run as the Vikings cut the deficit to 3-1.
Mason Hamilton closed the inning with a fielder’s choice play at second base.
East Hardy’s Jordan Teets hit a sharp grounder into center field for a single to commence the fifth inning.
After a balk, Wilkins was thrown out at first base on a dropped third strike play
Teets was awarded second base on a balk, then Gage Dove popped out and Mills grounded out.
Metheny was given a free pass with one out, then Cougars pitcher Gage Dove induced a groundout.
Tingler drew a walk before Mauzy smacked an RBI single past third base to close the gap 3-2.
Sisler caught a pop-up along the fence in foul territory to prevent another score.
Evan Hamilton launched the ball into center field where it was caught by Kuhn for the first out of the sixth inning.
Mason Hamilton drew a walk, then Van Meter smashed an RBI double into center field extending the Cougars lead to 4-2.
Van Meter was stranded as Price’s shot was snatched in center field and Sisler grounded out.
Petersburg went down in order on a groundout to Evan Hamilton, a strikeout and fly out to Teets.
Petersburg pitcher Caden Arbaugh started the seventh inning throwing a strikeout to East Hardy’s Jordan Teets, then allowed a single by Wilkins into center field.
Wilkins was stranded as Gage Dove struck out and Mills grounded out.
The Vikings rally started with a single by Rohrbaugh into center field.
East Hardy pitcher Evan Hamilton issued a walk to Metheny and the runners advanced on a passed ball.
Arbaugh tapped a game-tying two-run producing blooper into right field as Mills and Gage Dove converged diving for the ball and tumbling over as it bounced away.
The throw went awry as Arbaugh slid to third base.
Tingler and Mauzy were given intentional walks as the Vikings loaded the bases.
McDonald’s hit took a wicked hop ricocheting off the glove of Mason Hamilton into center field creating time for Arbaugh to score the winning run as the Vikings sailed to a 5-4 victory.
The Cougars ended the regular season with a record of 8-15.
East Hardy looks to return to the state tournament and will begin the playoff journey at Pendleton County tonight.
