With the game tied and tension mounting, Skiatook's Cole Bray bolted for the plate and slid home safely.
The daring move capped a stunning seventh-inning rally that erased a four-run deficit and snatched victory from Verdigris as the Cardinals fell 5-4 to the Bulldogs in the Hilldale-Fort Gibson Shootout on Thursday at Hilldale High School in Muskogee.
Verdigris (14-6) looked firmly in control for most of the game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind a strong outing from starter Ethan Hushbeck. The sophomore right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three. He also led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate while swiping two bases as well.
The Cardinals first struck in the bottom of the second when Landon Wine reached on an error to bring in Grant Hastings, and Korbin Ballinger executed a steal of home to make it 2-0. In the fifth, Mac West delivered what appeared to be the knockout blow, ripping a two-RBI double to score Hushbeck and Boston Acosta and stretch the lead to 4-0.
But Skiatook (10-9) chipped away late.
A pair of sixth-inning runs — aided by a Verdigris error — cut the deficit in half before the Bulldogs erupted in the seventh.
Cole Bray doubled in a run, a popout from Brecken Maxwell led to the tying run on another outfield error and Bray stunned the Cardinals by swiping home for the go-ahead run.
Verdigris managed just one hit against Maxwell in the final two frames as the Bulldogs closed it out.
West led the Cardinals with two RBIs. Acosta drew two walks, and the Cardinals totaled six stolen bases.
