Wildcats rally to beat St. Amant, 7-5

Jonathan Menard/Herald-Guide

Destrehan’s Rodrigo Rodriguez gets ready to swing the bat. The Wildcats are now 8-6 in district.

Trailing 4-0 heading into the fifth inning, the Destrehan Wildcats battled back to pick up a 7-5 win over St. Amant on Monday.

The Destrehan rally began in the top of the fifth when the Wildcats brought two runs across in the top of the fifth. Cameron Quigley was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, and courtesy runner Rodrigo Rodriguez advanced to second on a single by Jacob Marino. A wild pitch advanced both of the runners and Rodriguez would score on a fielder's choice by Jesse Bryant.

With two outs, Jace Weber knocked a hard ground ball to center field to score Marino and cut the St. Amant lead to 4-2.

The Gators picked up another run in the bottom of the inning, but Destrehan continued to fight back in the sixth.

Brandt Bourgeois led off the frame with a double to left field and Edwin DeLaCruz was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A passed ball advanced both runners and Quigley singled to left to bring across courtesy runner Jarius Vinnett and DeLaCruz to cut the St. Amant lead to 5-4.

The Wildcats took the lead in the seventh.

Bourgeois reached on a fielder's choice that scored Weber and Zach Schexnaydre gave the Wildcats a 6-5 lead on a passed ball.

Brett Hymel then gave Destrehan a 7-5 lead on a single to center.

Bourgeois would wrap up the win after forcing a fly out, a ground ball and finishing with a strikeout. He pitched a complete game, striking out nine and walking one. He scattered six hits.

Marino and Weber led the Wildcats with two hits, while Quigley knocked in two runs. Bryant, Weber, Bourgeois and Hymel all finished with RBIs for the Wildcats.

Destrehan wrapped up the regular season Wednesday against St. Amant but the game took place after the press deadline.

The Wildcats are currently 17-13 overall and 8-6 in district play.

For information from Wednesdays game, including Destrehan’s playoff schedule, see next week’s edition.