UNION CITY — The first three Indians reached base.
Anderson Prep didn’t record an out until an RBI sacrifice bunt.
A four-run first inning from the Union City High School baseball team was just the start Wednesday as the Indians scored 14 times in the third on the way to a 21-2, five-inning thumping of the visiting Jets.
After Caleb Lutz faced the minimum in the first inning, Jayson Connor reached base on an error to start the bottom of the frame and advanced to second base. Brayden Huggins followed with a single to left field and then stole second base. Trendon Spence then zipped an RBI double down the left field line before stealing third base.
Anderson Prep (1-10) finally recorded an out when Blake Curry laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Spence to the plate.
Union City (5-6) added a fourth run on a single and stolen base by Brennan Hoggatt followed by an RBI single to right field from Colton Emrick.
The opening offensive outburst was nothing compared to what came in the third inning. The Indians sent 19 batters to the plate, with 14 in a row reaching base. Asa Vaughn and Huggins each had doubles during the stretch, which also included six walks.
The production was well-distributed for Union City, with 11 players scoring, 10 recording hits and eight driving in runs. Huggins finished 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs while Joseangel Perez-Contreras and Spence each had two bits, two runs and two RBIs. Logan Besser and Lutz also had two RBIs apiece, and Luke Collins and Hoggatt each scored three times.
Lutz struck out six batters while limiting the Jets to one unearned run in three innings. Emrick gave up a run in one inning of relief and Besser struck out two Anderson Prep players in a clean frame.
The Jets managed just one hit, a single from Breydon Ball.
Samuel Viurquiz took the loss, giving up seven runs — six earned — one six hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Union City was set to play at Union County on Thursday before meeting Randolph Southern in the opening round of the Randolph County tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday at Winchester.
CENTERVILLE — The Indians took the lead briefly in a tight game through five innings before the game unraveled in the sixth.
Union City trailed just 1-0 through four innings, scored twice to pull ahead in the top of the fifth and was down 3-2 in the middle of the sixth. The Bulldogs (2-9) broke the game open with nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Blake Curry, one of six pitchers to see the mound for the Indians, took the loss as he gave up two runs — three earned — on three hits and a walk in two innings. Jayson Connor and Brennan Hoggatt each tossed a scoreless frame.
Connor powered UCHS at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs. Caleb Lutz also had a pair of hits, Brayden Huggins singled and score a run and Trendon Spence recorded an RBI.