The Warrenton Warriors dropped a doubleheader to Troy Buchanan this past weekend. Warrenton (14-13) dropped the opener of Saturday’s home doubleheader 2-1 in eight innings. The Warriors scored a run in the sixth inning to tie the game. Austin Haas scored on Kannon Hibbs’ RBI single to even the score at 1-1. The Trojans scored one run in the top of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead. Warrenton was unable to score in the bottom half of the eighth inning. “We had our chances,” Warrenton head coach Eric Burle said. 

“Ben (Peth) pitched a heck of a game. There were a few defensive plays in that but otherwise, it was a great, clean game. And anytime you can take a team like that and have an opportunity to win a game is pretty good.” 

Peth surrendered one unearned run in seven innings in the 2-1 loss. Hibbs, Haas and Peth each had two hits for Warrenton. 

The Warriors were unable to overcome a slow start in their 8-2 loss to the Trojans in the second game of the doubleheader. After a scoreless first inning, Troy scored four runs in the second inning and three runs in the third inning to take a 7-0 lead in the early portion of the game. Two of the seven runs scored were unearned runs. Warrenton had three errors in the loss. 

“There was a couple defensive plays that could have been made,” Burle said. I think Collin (Disilvister) had a few chances and Collin’s been extremely good at shortstop and has made great plays for us. And there were some funny hops too. There were a couple defensive plays that we probably needed to make. But it happens sometimes, It’s baseball.” 

Despite falling behind by seven runs, the Warriors had a chance to get back into Saturday’s game. Disilvister got the Warriors on the board with an RBI single to score Caleb Clark. Haas’ RBI single in the fourth inning scored Mason Thompson to pull Warrenton within five runs. The Warriors loaded the bases with two outs but Hibbs grounded into a fielder’s choice out to end the inning. Warrenton put two runners on in the fifth inning with one out but were unable to score in the inning. 

With the Warriors playing their fifth game in six days, Warrenton turned to multiple pitchers who had not pitched all season long. Haas threw two shutout innings and Clark threw one shutout inning for Warrenton. 

“It’s the fourth and fifth game of the week,” Burle said. “You’re pitching some guys that typically don’t pitch in a varsity game. I was happy with how they played and battled.” 

Warrenton’s pitching and depth limitations were stretched even more thin with the loss of Tyler Oliver, who was the Warriors’ cleanup hitter and one of their most utilized pitchers. Oliver suffered an injury earlier last week that will end his season. 

“We were really only playing nine guys,” Burle said. “And a number of guys weren’t really going to be in the mix at the beginning of the year but have filled in great. It’s just an unfortunate situation and it’s kind of been a quirky season with that. But I’m pretty proud of the way they’ve played all year through all of it.” 

Prior to Saturday’s losses to Troy Buchanan, Warrenton had won three straight non-conference games. The third win came in last week’s 12-8 win over Bowling Green, which was Warrenton’s third straight game that they scored at least 12 runs. 

“We’ve been swinging it pretty well all season,” Burle said. “So there was a good stretch where our offense showed up.” 

Warrenton rebounded from last weekend’s losses with a 17-1 win over Christian in four innings. Sam Wortham went 4-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. Hibbs reached base three times on two singles and a walk. He scored three runs. Thompson walked twice and recorded one hit. Disilvister scored three runs. Disilvister earned the win on the mound for the Warriors. He allowed one earned run in four innings. He surrendered just one hit and one walk.