Jackson drops home opener

~ House Springs scored six runs in the fifth.

The Jackson American Legion team and visiting House Springs were evenly matched in all but one inning Wednesday.

The fifth inning made the difference.

House Springs scored six runs in the top of the fifth to open an eight-run lead and held off Post 148 for a 10-5 victory.

Jackson, which split a season-opening doubleheader with De Soto on Monday, fell to 1-2 with the loss. The nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader was rained out after two innings.

After Jackson scored twice in the bottom of the second to cut its deficit to 3-2, House Springs scored a run in the fourth and added six in the fifth to put the game away.

Post 148 managed two runs in the bottom of the fifth but was quieted in the last two innings.

"You have to give them credit," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "They punched the ball through the infield and brought in some runs."

Geoff Enders pitched 4 2/3 innings and took the loss on the mound for Jackson. Levi Petzoldt replaced Enders in the fifth and allowed no runs in the last couple innings.

Jordan Buchheit and Zach Ayers each went 2-for-4 with a double, and Austin Leimer added a home run for Post 148.

Jackson, which committed two errors, tallied seven hits compared to House Springs' 10.

"We just couldn't close out innings," Lewis said.

On Monday, Jackson lost 6-1 in the first game of the doubleheader with De Soto before claiming the nightcap 15-7.