HARRISBURG - New Bloomfield's shaky pitching proved damaging when Harrisburg tallied the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to trip the Wildcats 5-4 on Wednesday night.
New Bloomfield sophomore reliever Tyler Fennewald issued four walks in the seventh, including one to force home the decisive run, as he suffered the loss. Fennewald allowed a hit and struck out two over 1 1/3 innings.
Sophomore starter Clay Jensen struggled at the outset for the Wildcats (8-12), giving up four runs in the first on three hits, three walks and a hit batter.
"Our pitching didn't quite hold out," New Bloomfield head coach Brandon Talbot said.
The Wildcats closed within 4-2 in the second after sophomore catcher Derek Shikles singled home a run and junior Sam Niedergerke drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the other run. New Bloomfield then tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth on RBI singles from senior third baseman Clark Philbert and Shikles.
Shikles finished 2-for-4 as the Wildcats totalled 10 hits. Philbert was also 2-for-4 with a run scored, while junior designated hitter Tucker Lane went 2-for-4 with a double and scored once.
New Bloomfield hosts the Class 2, District 8 Tournament starting with a pair of games Saturday. No. 4 seed Russellville squares off against No. 5 Father Tolton at 11 a.m., then No. 3 New Bloomfield faces No. 6 New Haven at 1 p.m.
"Our talent needs to show up," Talbot said. "It's been disappointing the last couple of weeks for our talented players not to play up to their potential.
"We've got to do something to come together and get hot at the right time."