Jackson Legion splits twinbill

~ Jackson droppedthe opener to Bonne Terre 12-8, but won the second contest 12-4.

The Jackson American Legion baseball team salvaged a split of its doubleheader Tuesday with Bonne Terre at Jackson City Park.

After Bonne Terre won the first game 12-8, Jackson recovered for a 12-4 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, the teams took turns taking the lead throughout the first few innings before Bonne Terre seized control.

Bonne Terre struck in the top of the first on an RBI single by Cody Huff.

Jackson answered with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead.

Bonne Terre moved ahead 5-4 with four runs in the third inning, before Jackson tied the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the frame.

But Bonne Terre ended the see-saw trend with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings for a 9-5 lead that it never relinquished.

Jackson (20-9) scored three runs in the sixth, but Bonne Terre restored the four-run advantage with three runs in the seventh for a 12-8 lead.

"We played pretty good," Bonne Terre's Pete Grindel said. "I felt we hit the ball well."

Grindel and Jordan Thompson combined to score seven runs to lead the Bonne Terre offense.

Bonne Terre coach Matt Thompson said it was nice to get a win against Jackson, which has shown it can put up runs.

"It's really good to win on the road," Thompson said. "Winning big games like this and having to battle back is really good for us going into our big tournament next weekend."

Bonne Terre and Jackson usually don't meet, but both teams were in need of games after recent rainouts.

"We play in a wood (bat) league," Thompson said. "We just need to get in as many games as we can."

Jackson coach Mark Lewis said his team didn't play badly in the first game, but failed to capitalize on opportunities.

"We had some pretty good at-bats," Lewis said. "Defensively, we just didn't make some plays that were key for us in key spots."

Jackson pitcher Mike Mouser allowed nine runs on 11 hits and walked four.

"I wasn't down on the way Mouser pitched," Lewis said. "It seemed like he would get ahead of the hitters, but they were able to hit the ball with two strikes."

Jackson's Shelby Kight posted the win on the mound in the second game.