CORNING EDGES ATHENS, 3-1

By: Tim Birney  /  May 13, 2021

CORNING — Unbeaten Corning scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out a 3-1 win over Athens here Thursday afternoon in non-league baseball action.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kaden Setzer, but Corning answered with an unearned run in the second to tie the game.

The Wildcats had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the third, but couldn’t push a run across. They didn’t have a runner get past first base over the final four innings.

Corning had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Athens starter sophomore Gage Warner registered a strikeout to end the threat.

Corning’s first two batters in the sixth inning reached base after being hit by pitches. With one out, a wild pitch plated the go-ahead run, then John Green added an insurance run with an RBI single.

Kyler Setzer and Lucas Kraft singled to account for Athens’ two hits, while Mason Lister scored one run, and Kaden Setzer had an RBI.

Warner was tagged with the tough-luck loss for the Wildcats. He allowed three runs — two earned — on seven hits, while striking out six and walking one in six innings of work.

Mason Smith started for the Hawks, allowing an unearned run on one hit, while striking out four and walking one in 4 1/3 innings.

Tom Hacket earned the win, allowing one hit, while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Athens, now 10-8, hosts Waverly Friday.