Buckeye rallies in seventh to edge Westlake 5-4

Buckeye scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday to slip past Westlake 5-4 at Buckeye High School, erasing a late deficit and finishing off a comeback in the final at-bat. The Bucks trailed 4-2 entering the seventh before drawing even on a walk by Brown and a run-scoring single from Stough, then pushed across the winning run to complete the home victory.

Westlake grabbed control early with two runs in the top of the first. Thompson opened the scoring with a triple down the right-field line, and Bierfeldt followed with a single to center that brought home another run for a 2-0 lead. Buckeye answered immediately in the bottom half, tying the game at 2-2 on Brown's single and a Westlake error.

The game stayed tight into the late innings before Westlake moved back in front in the sixth. Bierfeldt delivered again with a single that gave Westlake a 3-2 advantage, and the visitors added another run to carry a two-run cushion into the seventh. Buckeye responded under pressure, putting together the decisive rally with Brown and Stough at the center of it.

Heers went the distance for the Bucks and earned the win, allowing nine hits and four runs over seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one while keeping Buckeye within reach long enough for the offense to rally late. Westlake starter Jensen worked five innings, allowing four hits and two runs, one earned, with five strikeouts and one walk. Hall took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, over 1 1/3 innings in relief.

Buckeye finished with balanced production at the plate. Metter, Perkins, Stough, Heers, Seeley and Brown each had one hit. Brown and Stough drove in one run apiece, and the Bucks also turned a double play on defense. In a one-run game that swung back and forth, Buckeye's final-inning execution made the difference.