Kenny Howell
SALINA - The Salina Wildcats got a come from behind victory over Oklahoma Union Thursday to kick off the season.
The Wildcats were down by three runs in the sixth, but a five run inning pushed the Wildcats to the win.
The Cougars got a run in the first to take the lead but Salina matched it with a Jace Squirrel RBI double that knocked in Dalton Daniels.
Oklahoma Union picked up two more runs in the top of the second, and held Salina scoreless until the bottom of the third. Ty Stewart hit a screaming line drive in the third, then scored on an error to cut it to 3-2.
The Cougars built their lead in the fifth to 5-2, a score which lasted until the bottom of the sixth.
In the sixth, Chad Backward started things off with a walk. Jesse Blaylock came in as a courtesy runner and went to second on a passed ball, third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball. Brent Bluebird got on with a single and came around to score eventually on a passed ball. Lucien Littledave knocked in Dillon Manchell with a RBI single to tie the game up at 5-5. But the Wildcats weren’t done. Dalton Reynolds scored on a passed ball to put the Wildcats on top, and Backward drew a bases loaded walk to cap off the scoring.
Freshman Brent Bluebird got the win on the mound by pitching the final two innings. He got the final six batters he faced out.
Salina hosts Chelsea Friday, 4 p.m.
Salina 7 Oklahoma Union 5
O - 120 020 0 - 5 2 1
S - 101 005 x - 7 5 6
Chad Backward, Brent Bluebird (5) and Jace Squirrel. W: Bluebird (1-0).
