WOOD RIVER — It came down to the final swing Friday at Emerick Sports Complex, where the East Alton-Wood River Oilers delivered a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over Bunker Hill.
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With the game tied at three in the bottom of the seventh, Kameren Johnson came through in the clutch, ripping a single to drive in the game-winning run and seal the Oilers’ victory.
East Alton-Wood River got key production from the bottom of the lineup, as Johnson, Zane Bartz, and Austin Woods combined for four of the team’s five hits. The trio also accounted for three runs scored and two RBIs in a balanced offensive effort.
The Oilers struck first in the third inning when Johnson delivered an RBI single to give EAWR a 1-0 lead.
Bunker Hill responded in the fourth, taking a 3-1 advantage after a two-run triple by No. 34, who later scored on a sacrifice to cap the inning.
EAWR battled back in the fifth to even the score at 3-3, capitalizing on a Bunker Hill error and a groundout RBI from Canaan Cook.
On the mound, Zane Bartz earned the win in relief, tossing five innings while allowing just one hit and three runs. The left-hander struck out seven and walked eight. Jerald Downs started the game for EAWR, working two scoreless innings while striking out four.
Johnson and Bartz led the Oilers' offense with two hits apiece, with Johnson driving in two runs from the No. 9 spot and finishing 2-for-3. Johnny Sesson and Bartz added speed on the bases, each swiping multiple bags as the Oilers totaled seven stolen bases in the contest.
Bunker Hill's Brennan Fulton started on the mound and allowed four hits and four runs, only one earned, over six innings, striking out nine and walking one.
Fulton and Corbin Carlson had one hit apiece for Bunker Hill.
Bunker Hill tallied 13 walks for the game. Fulton and Colton Parker led the team with three walks each. Parker and Jarden each stole multiple bases for Bunker Hill, with eight stolen bases for the game.
