Loyd Star slips past FC baseball, snap Dawgs' 13-game win streak

The regular season baseball showdown between Franklin County and Loyd Star turned into a slugfest as the two squads combined for 23 hits as the visiting Hornets claimed a 15-12 win over the Diamond Dawgs.

The non-district loss proved to be the end for Franklin County’s 13-game win streak on the season that started on March 7.

It also avenged a 12-8 loss by the Hornets back on Monday, Feb. 13.

One of the difference makers in the contest was five errors in the game by the Bulldogs. Loyd Star finished with no miscues in its winning effort.

While the hitting for both programs appeared good, FC and Loyd Star combined for 19 stranded baserunners — with 10 of those belonging to the home team.

The Hornets started the game with eight runs in the first inning and one more in the second with FC scoring seven runs in the bottom half of the initial two frames to trail by only two, 9-7.

Loyd Star’s offense kept clicking with three runs in the third and two in the fourth while the Bulldogs plated no runs.

Franklin County battled back late with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth with the Hornets seeing only one run in the top of the sixth.

Two Bulldogs’ players had three hits each in the contest — Noah McCormick went 3-of-3 with two singles and a double and Terrance Fields was 3-of-5 with a trio of singles.

McCormick scored twice and led the team with three RBI. He walked twice in the contest.

Fields scored a run, had an RBI and struck out twice.

Donovan Moore and Larry Pernell had two hits apiece for FC with the former stroking a single and home run and the latter connecting on a single and a double.

The duo scored three runs and had one RBI each with Moore collecting two walks and Pernell drawing one walk.

Jamari Tolliver and Peyton Hebert were both 1-of-4 as the pair had a single each with both scoring a run and earning one walk. Hebert also had an RBI and a strike out.

And, despite going hitless in the outing, Meadows (0-of-4) and Carter Spring (0-of-2) both had an RBI.

Meadows struck out twice and Spring walked and struck out once.

Quez Rancifer, who was 0-of-4, scored a run, had a walk and struck out three times.

Franklin County worked four pitchers against Loyd Star — Moore, Tolliver, Spring and Fields.

Moore opened the game and faced four batters. In 16 pitches, he was tagged for four runs (three of those earned) on no hits and three walks.

Tolliver came in for two-and-a-third innings and squared off against 21 Hornets’ batters with 74 total pitches. He surrendered eight runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out two and walking three.

Spring spent two-and-two-thirds innings on the mound and gave up three runs (all earned) on three Loyd Star hits while striking out three.

Fields worked the final two innings and faced seven batters in throwing 25 pitches.

He allowed only one hit and struck out one.

Franklin County finished its 2023 regular season with a 17-5 overall record.