LINN - South Callaway broke a 4-all tie when two runs scored on senior second baseman Trevor Miller's suicide squeeze bunt in the top of the seventh inning in the Bulldogs' 6-5 win over Linn in Tuesday night's Show-Me Conference opener.
Senior center fielder Cory Hanger drew a leadoff walk to start South Callaway's seventh and moved up when senior shortstop Dax Helsel reached on an error. Junior catcher Cameron Richardson then loaded the bases when he was safe on a bunt single.
Hanger sprinted home with the go-ahead run on Miller's bunt and Helsel made it 6-4 when the throw sailed over Linn's first baseman.
The Wildcats used two doubles in the bottom of the seventh to cut their deficit to a run, but sophomore reliever Grayson Peneston worked out of a jam to seal the win for the Bulldogs (3-0).
South Callaway owned an early 2-0 edge, but the Wildcats countered with two runs apiece in the third and fourth to take a 4-2 lead. The Bulldogs tallied single runs in the fifth and sixth to pull even, before rallying in the seventh for their dramatic victory.
"The kids battled back and no one panicked," South Callaway head coach Heath Lepper said. "We put together some good at-bats, got guys on and found a way to get them across the plate."
Helsel went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in as the Bulldogs totalled 10 hits. Hanger finished 2-for-3 with a double and scored three times, while senior designated hitter Harold Woods was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
"We're capitalizing on mistakes and getting better with every game," Lepper said. "We're looking to take advantage on every pitch, which is crucial in high school ball, and we're trying to score runs any way we can."
Peneston worked three innings in relief of senior starter Terry Miles to pick up the win. Peneston (1-0) gave up an earned run on three hits, struck out two and walked none.
"Grayson kept his composure," Lepper said. "He had pretty good command of his pitches and got a couple of key strikeouts at opportune times."
South Callaway (3-2) prevailed in the junior varsity game 9-2.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play at California at 5 p.m. today.