Despite just 2 hits on offense, Wolverines utilize clutch baserunning to propel comeback victory in Myrtle Beach over Class B power Livonia, 8-6

MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The sun descended below the horizon, and the lights at the Cal Ripken Complex in Myrtle Beach flickered on for a late night of baseball. After enduring a pair of Monday afternoon scrimmages to get their engines firing down south, it was time for game number two of their 2024 campaign.

The opposition? — Class B baseball superpower Livonia.

Wednesday’s task at hand was one of immense stature for the Wolverines, having to dig their way back from a deficit that eclipsed as much as four runs right in the early-going. Their bats were silenced by the Bulldogs for much of the game, but despite it, Bolivar-Richburg resorted to the next best thing — baserunning.

Behind five Livonia errors, four walks and four stolen bases, the Wolverines were able to make the most of the opportunity in front of them, overcoming an early 4-0 deficit with six of the game’s last eight runs. That included a big three-run bottom of the sixth inning which catapulted them ahead into the driver’s seat to close out an evening under the stars on top with an 8-6 victory.

Following a scoreless first outing was exchanged between the two foes, the Bulldogs were the first to etch their path onto the scoreboard first with the contest’s first four runs, three of them in the top of the second off three hits to help break the ice. After the advantage was branched to four, the team in black and red halved it with their first two runs before tying the game at four in the very next frame off heads-up baserunning behind the Livonia defense.

From the fifth inning onward, it was a matter of who wanted the victory more, as the two foes combined to score the game’s final six runs. The bulk of the scores belonged to the Wolverines, including a big three-run bottom of the sixth that was captained by a massive two-run triple off the stick of Trey Buchholz.

The triple was one of just two hits on offense Bolivar-Richburg would muster, with the other being a second triple provisioned by Landon Barkley. In addition to their strikes, the two Wolverines converged to claim victory as the team’s battery on the mound, as both Buchholz and Barkley each recorded five strikeouts and two walks. Barkley was credited with the win in relief, when he began his tenure in the fourth inning.

The Wolverines will now return home and resume play next Thursday night with a 5 p.m. first pitch against Genesee Valley/Belfast.

Livonia 031 020 0 – 6 6 5

Bolivar-Richburg 002 213 X – 8 2 4

LIV – Seth Eadie (6K, 4BB), Kaidan O'Connor (LP, 6) (K) and Jacob Benitez.

B-R – Trey Buchholz (5K, 2BB), Landon Barkley (WP, 4) (5K, 2BB) and Aydin Sisson.