Malden baseball team takes down Advance

MALDEN, Mo. -- Malden starting pitcher Darren Green threw a complete game against Advance, which was exactly what the Green Wave needed in the first game of a two-day baseball tournament Friday afternoon.

"For me it was a confidence booster to know I could go seven innings," Green said. "Most of my pitches were working. This full game really helped me and my team out."

Advance starting pitcher Trey Wallace also went the distance for the Hornets. He allowed only one run in his first four innings of work. The game was tied at 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning when Malden put together back-to-back multiple-run innings on its way to a 6-1 win.

"I thought both teams played well," Advance coach Bob Moses said. "We made a couple of miscues, but it was a very competitive game before Malden pulled away late. I was happy with how my kids played overall. We had good pitching but just made a few too many mistakes."

Malden jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Tanner Murphy connected for an RBI double.

Advance tied the contest in the fifth inning when Ryan Moses collected a two-out RBI double. The Hornets' Jacob Spears was thrown out at home on the double when he attempted to score from first base.

Malden's E.J. Stanley collected a two-out two-run single in the fifth to give the Green Wave a 3-1 lead. Toby Miller hit an RBI single two batters later to stretch the lead to 4-1 .

"We finally got a big hit," Malden coach Tim Harmon said. "The one that stick outs in my mind is the two-out hit by Miller. We've had runners in scoring position all year long but just haven't been able to get that big hit."

Malden added two runs in the sixth.

Green earned the win on the mound. He allowed three hits and struck out seven. He did not allow a hit in the first three innings or the final two innings.

Wallace took the loss. He allowed nine hits and struck out eight. The Hornets committed three errors in the game.

"Trey did a good job," coach Moses said. "We just didn't back him up."

Ryan Moses finished 2 for 2 with a walk for the Hornets.

"I saw it real well," Ryan Moses said about his two hits. "He was throwing really good. It was kind of deceptive. He didn't throw overpowering, but it came up on you fast.

"We played real well. We are a young team and you can see where the inexperience comes in on some plays, but that's probably the best team game we've played all year. A few balls just didn't fall for us. We battled well. We just didn't get it done today."

Advance lost its second game to Gideon 14-2. Gideon finished second in its pool, and Advance took third.

Advance 000 010 0 -- 1 3 3

Malden 100 032 x -- 6 9 1

WP -- Darren Green. LP -- Trey Wallace. 2B -- Ryan Moses (A), Green (M), Tanner Murphy (M). Multiple hits -- Advance: Moses 2-2; Malden: Dylan Earnheart 2-3, Mitch Coleman 2-4, Tanner Murphy 2-2.