JEFFERSONVILLE — Bennie Day knocked in three runs and Gabe Bierman kept the Louisville St. Xavier (Ky.) bats in check as Jeffersonville beat the visiting Tigers 5-1 on Thursday night at Don Poole Field.

It was a one-run game until Jeffersonville put together a four-run third inning. After that, Bierman and the Red Devils defense kept St. Xavier at bay.

“First-pitch strikes make it a lot easier,” Jeff coach Derek Ellis said of Bierman’s effort. “We had good defense behind him. His defense didn’t let him down."

For Bierman (2-3), who scattered three hits and finished with eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort, the defense allowed him to pitch his game.

“It makes me feel really comfortable,” Bierman said of the defense behind him.

Jeffersonville had a chance to score in the first inning, but a base running miscue and a bad break kept the home team scoreless.

Bailey Falkenstein had drawn a one out walk off of St. Xavier starter Matthew Logsdon but was picked off with Ethan English at bat. Moments later, English crushed a triple off the centerfield wall.

With English at third, Cam Northern hit an infield grounder and was initially called safe when a collision at first base knocked the ball loose. But Northern was shaken up, couldn’t make it back to the bag in time and was tagged out. The run didn’t count, much to the chagrin of the home crowd.

In the home second, the Red Devils were able to the run that had eluded them in the first.

Singles by Jack Ellis and Devyn Rivers gave Jeff runners at first and second with one out. Day followed that up with a single that scored pinch-runner Nick Grider from second and the Red Devils led 1-0.

Jeffersonville’s big inning came in the third when English was hit by a pitch and Northern hit a one out single up the middle. Ellis added a bloop single behind third base and that loaded the bases for Bierman.

Logsdon walked Bierman to score English to make it 2-0. That was it for the St. Xavier starter. He was relieved by Samuel Mudd.

Against Mudd with the bases still loaded, Rivers hit a fly out to centerfield that scored Northern and left runners at first and second.

Day was up next and a passed ball advanced the runners to second and third. Day took advantage with a two-run single up the middle and that gave the Red Devils a 5-0 lead.

“It was senior leadership from Bennie,” Coach Ellis said. “He did a great job.”

After giving up just two hits in five innings, Bierman struggled in the top of the sixth.

Ezekiel Porta got the Tigers started with a leadoff single to left field, Cameron Scheler was hit by a pitch and St. Xavier had runners at first and second with no outs.

Bierman notched a strike out to slow the rally, but St. Xavier’s Trey Sweeney then reached on an infield error and that loaded the bases.

A fielders’ choice by Christopher Esselman scored Porta to spoil the shutout, but Bierman followed that up with a strikeout to end the threat with a 5-1 lead.

“I just wanted to hit my spot and get out of the inning,” Bierman said.

For Coach Ellis, the effort against a nice team like St. Xavier is something to build on.

“The approach all of our guys had was solid,” he said. “Pitching, hitting and defense came together. It was a nice win all around.”

Jeff hosts Class 3A No. 1 Jasper this evening.

News & Tribune April 28, 2017
By TOM WHITUS sports@newsandtribune.com