Blackcats halted by Troy in bi-district round of playoffs

The Mexia baseball team's first foray into the postseason playoffs in five years was a short one.
Mexia lost to state-ranked Troy, 9-0, at Waco ISD Sports Complex on Friday night, May 3, to finish its season with a 13-12 record.
Troy had beaten Mexia, 4-1, on Thursday and swept the best-of-three series.
The game Friday was much closer than its 9-0 score indicated. The Blackcats stayed with Troy for five innings and trailed 1-0. But the Trojans pulled away with eight runs in the top of the sixth inning.
For five innings, Mexia senior right-hander Brett Swift matched Troy's Joseph McMurtry pitch-for-pitch. The only run of the game came in the second when Troy scored with two outs on a double and a single.
The Blackcats had runners on base in the second and third innings, but could not get a run across the plate.
Mexia looked to tie the score in the bottom of the second when Swift singled to right field to lead off the frame. But McMurtry got two strikeouts and a fly out to strand Swift at first.
The Blackcats made another bid to tie the game or take the lead in the third inning. Andres Venegas led off with a single. After a strikeout, Keydren Majors singled putting runners at first and second.
After another strikeout, Venegas and Majors advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. But they were left in scoring position when a groundout ended the inning.
The Blackcats were still within a run when Troy erupted for eight in the sixth inning. The first two batters reached on errors. The Trojans pounded six of their nine hits during the inning.
Swift was credited with five innings pitched for Mexia. He allowed six hits and seven runs, of which three were earned. He walked one and struck out three.
Majors came on in relief in the fifth inning and pitched the final two innings. He gave up three hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one and struck out two.
McMurtry went the route and fashioned a five-hit shutout. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter.