CROSSETT – The El Dorado Oilers had a short stay at the Crossett Invitational on Saturday, falling to Carlisle 7-1 in their final pool play game before being ousted in the first round of bracket play by Winnsboro (La.) 9-8.
The Oilers held a 1-0 lead against the Bison, but Carlisle scored twice in the fourth before adding five runs in the fifth to make the final margin.
The Oilers made a furious comeback against Winnsboro, scoring six runs in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 9-2 deficit.
In their first game of the day, the Oilers scored a run in the first to take the early lead.
Tanner McLelland, who was 3-for-3 to account for all of the hits the Oilers had, led off the first with a single to left and stole second.
With one out, Jacob Eubanks and Ashton Yarbrough drew consecutive walks to load the bases, and Hunter Lawrence drove in McLelland with a sacrifice fly.
Josh Saulsbury made the one run stand up through three innings, but the Bison scored twice in the fourth before breaking the game open in the fifth.
Saulsbury (2-1) went the distance, finishing with a six-hitter. He walked three and struck out seven with four of the seven runs he allowed being earned.
In addition to his three hits, McLelland also stole two bases.
Having finished pool play with the No. 3 seed, the Oilers looked to bounce back in bracket play, but couldn’t overcome another big inning as the Red Raiders scored five runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead before holding on to win.
The Oilers scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull within 6-2.
Eubanks got a two-out rally started with a double down the left-field line and Yarbrough followed with a double of his own to score Eubanks to make it 6-1.
In the fifth, Saulsbury belted a ground-rule double to left-center to start the frame.
After stealing third, Saulsbury scored on a bunt by AJ Alsobrook to pull the Oilers within 6-2.
The Red Raiders scored three runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 9-2, but the Oilers responded in their final turn at the plate.
The Oilers loaded the bases with one out after McLelland singled to left, Tyler Johnson doubled to center and Eubanks was hit by a pitch.
Yarbrough then drove in a run by walking on four pitches to make it 9-3.
With the bases reloaded, Lawrence singled to center to score Johnson to cut the deficit to 9-4.
One out later, Alsobrook drove a 0-1 pitch off the left shoulder of the first baseman that ricocheted into foul territory.
Eubanks and Yarbrough scored on the play, and even though Lawrence was rounding third as the first baseman retrieved the ball, he beat the throw to the plate.
Alsobrook then attempted to score after the throw got past the catcher, and he slid under the tag to score to bring the Oilers within 9-8.
But that would be as close as the Oilers would get.
The Oilers had nine hits in the game with McLelland going 2-for-3 to finish 5-for-6 in the two games.
Alsobrook, Yarbrough, Eubanks, Saulsbury, Johnson, Lawrence and Kolin Parker each had one hit for the Oilers.
McLelland (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs with only two being earned in four innings. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out six.
Jacob Orr allowed three runs with two being earned in two innings in relief. He walked two and struck out one while allowing two hits.
The Oilers (13-5-1) will look to bounce back Tuesday night when they host Arkadelphia for a doubleheader.
Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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