Westfield edged Noblesville 3-2 Friday at Grand Park in the opener of a three-game series.
The Shamrocks scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning, when Austin Wessel batted in Luke Hutson. The Millers answered with two runs in the top of the third: Cooper Miles sent a single into left field to get Cole Barnes and Lucas Williams home.
But Westfield took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Smitherman’s RBI groundout scored Trey Anderson, then Zach Collins brought Bryce Dorton in with a center field single. Collins had two hits on the night.
Smitherman pitched four innings for the win, tossing five strikeouts. Mason Cox relieved him in the fifth inning, and only allowed one hit in his three innings of work.
“Proud of the way our guys competed today,” said ‘Rocks coach Ryan Bunnell. “Tyler Smitherman gave us a solid outing on the mound, he’s really stepped up this year for us. If he continues to grow, big things are ahead for him. Mason Cox gave us three great innings of relief again. Bryce Dorton and Zach Collins had good nights for us.”
Matt Peek hit a second-inning triple for Noblesville, while Nathan Imel smacked a double in the fourth inning. Clay Holzworth pitched the complete game, striking out six.
The two teams will continue the series at noon today at the Millers’ Don Dunker Field.
Westfield 3,Noblesville 2
Noblesville AB R H RBI
Brady Walden 3 0 0 0
DJ Owens 2 0 0 0
Cooper Miles 3 0 1 2
Cade Nelis 3 0 1 0
Matt Peek 3 0 1 0
Zach Gruver 3 0 0 0
Ethan Imel 2 0 1 0
Cole Barnes 1 1 0 0
Lucas Williams 2 1 1 0
Camden Nagel 0 0 0 0
Totals 22 2 5 2
3B: Peek. 2B: Imel. SAC: Barnes. HBP: Walden.
Noblesville pitching IP R ER H
Clay Holzworth 6 3 2 7
Strikeouts: Holzworth 6. Walks: Holzworth 2.
Westfield AB R H RBI
Trey Anderson 2 1 1 0
Bryce Dorton 3 1 2 0
Tyler Smitherman 3 0 0 1
Zach Collins 3 0 2 1
Kyle Pepiot 2 0 0 0
Austin Wessel 3 0 1 1
Payton Tamm 3 0 1 0
AJ Bunnell 2 0 0 0
Mason Cox 0 0 0 0
Cody South 2 0 0 0
Luke Hutson 0 1 0 0
Totals 23 3 7 3
SB: Pepiot, Wessel.
Westfield pitching IP R ER H
Smitherman (W) 4 2 2 4
Cox 3 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Smitherman 5, Cox 2. Walks: Smitherman 3, Cox 2.
Score by innings
Noblesville 002 000 0 – 2 5 2
Westfield 012 000 x – 3 7 0
Westfield’s Tyler Smitherman threw five strikeouts in four innings for the Shamrocks in their Friday win over Noblesville. (Kent Graham)
Noblesville shortstop Cooper Miles snags a fly ball. (Kent Graham)