Carmel baseball holds off No. 3 Fishers

The REPORTER

On Monday night at Hartman Field in Carmel, the Greyhounds hosted the Class 4A third-ranked Fishers Tigers in an all-county matchup that kept fans from both sides compelled throughout.

A couple of three-run innings helped Carmel to separate from Fishers and hold on for a key home win, 8-7.

Fishers scored the first run in the top of the first when Trevor Hall hit an RBI single to score Zander Carnahan.

The Greyhounds tied it in the bottom of the inning. Gabe Mathison reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole both second and third. Mathison scored when Parker Heaney hit into a fielder’s choice to make it 1-1.

The Tigers grabbed a 2-1 lead on a Carter Strole base hit, scoring Jase Ruggles.

Carmel went up by two with a three-run bottom of the second. Four singles and a pair of doubles put the ‘Hounds up 4-2 through two. They padded their lead on a Silas Neal sacrifice fly, scoring Carson Mace for a 5-2 score.

Fishers climbed right back into it to begin the fourth. Carter Strole hit a one-out double and was driven in for 5-3 on a Brady Carman grounder to center. Deagan Repp walked for two on. Carman scored on Mayo Fernandez’s hit to right, cutting it to 5-4.

Carnahan’s double to center scored Repp, knotting it 5-5.

The ‘Hounds jumped back out in front for good. Three walks and another couple base hits, including a two-run single from Nate Steele pushing Carmel out to an 8-5 lead through five innings.

Hall reached on an error to start the top of the seventh, moving to second on the same error by Evan Vogt at third. Ruggles sent Hall home narrowing it to 8-6. Collin Hebert got on from the Vogt’s second error of the inning, also getting to second on the throwing error. Ruggles scored on a ground out by Strole. That was the closest the Tigers got, as the Greyhounds turned a double play to end the game.

Ruggles, Carnahan and Strole all three had two-hit performances, while Strole led Fishers with two RBIs.

Fishers (16-3, 8-0 HCC) continues a busy schedule this week and right back to Hoosier Crossroads Conference play at home tonight against No. 9 Avon (13-6, 6-2 HCC) at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers conclude the series tomorrow night at Avon and host New Castle (5-11) on Friday night.

Nate Steele led with a 3-for-3 night and two RBIs, while Neal (three RBIs) and Tyler Walkey both collected two hits apiece.

Carmel (11-6) continues its week tomorrow night at 6 p.m. against the McCutcheon Mavericks (6-7) at home. The Greyhounds head north to face No. 6 Crown Point (15-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday.