Mammoth Turns Back Providence, 6-5

Providence High’s Andrew Carney fouled off a bunt attempt with two strikes, leaving the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning, as the visiting Pioneers fell, 6-5, to Mammoth in a Southern Section Division VI quarterfinal baseball game.

Providence (15-4) rallied from a 4-0 third-inning deficit to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. But Pioneers starter Robert Mena (7-2) couldn’t make the lead stand up, allowing two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Mena, who was tagged for four first-inning runs, gave up only six hits, but walked five while striking out 10. Four of Mammoth’s runs were earned.

The Pioneers, Liberty League champion, touched senior right-hander Doug Bowlan (11-3) for six hits and five runs, but reliever Eric Key came on in the sixth and pitched two hitless innings to notch his fifth save.

Bowlan led Mammoth (21-7) with two hits, including a triple, and two runs.

Zack Blachly had a two-run single in Providence’s four-run fourth-inning rally.