The Unaka Rangers spent Monday afternoon playing catch up in their Watauga Valley Conference baseball clash with Sullivan North at Claude Holsclaw Field.

After finally tying the game in the last of the seventh, the Rangers (0-5, 0-1 WVC) saw North rally against the Unaka bullpen and register an 8-5 victory.

“I could have left Bryson out there, but he was already at 24 (pitches) and he is our starter for tomorrow,” Rangers manager Tee Blevins said. “So, we have to have someone go tomorrow. John Boy battled – he didn’t have his best game – but he kept us in it and we had a chance to win it for us.”

Each team scored in the same inning until the seventh when Street’s RBI double tied the game at 5-5. North (3-0, 1-0 WVC) got a run in the first on an infield error after a walk and a hit batter.

Unaka got that run back after a two-out double from Ramsey and an RBI single from Daniel Ensor. In the third North centerfielder Casey Hartsell smashed a home run to left field for a 2-1 Golden Raider lead.

A sacrifice fly from Street in the third plated Ramsey after his second two bagger of the game and knotted the score at 2-2. In the fifth North plated three runs on as many hits with Braydon Wilhoit plating two with a single and Zack Scott also had an RBI base knock as North took a 5-2 advantage.

Unaka got two of those runs back in the last of the frame as North starter Cole Bear walked the first two hitters of the stanza forcing manager Steve Dixon to go with Hunter Dingus in relief.

Dingus walked the first hitter he faced loaded the bases for the Rangers and with one away Ramsey walked to force in a run and Street had his second ribbie of the game with a sac fly to make it a 5-4 contest.

Street’s third RBI of the game came with two out in the seventh and Reid Taylor at second base as he doubled to left and the Rangers had a chance to win it with Ensor at the dish but he lined to second to force extra innings.

Street came on for Ramsey to open the eighth and walked his first two hitters – though one was erased on a caught stealing and he struck out pinch hitter Gavin Spears but walked leadoff hitter Tyler DePriest bringing Nick Nunley on to pitch with runners at the corners and two out.

A wild pitch brought home a run and Hartsell singled in a run and a throwing error from Ensor at catcher brought home another and North led 8-5. Dingus retired Unaka in order after a single from Nunley to earn the win.

Sullivan North 8-5

Sullivan North  101 030 03 – 8 7 1

Unaka 101 020 10 – 5 7 3

W – Dingus L – Street

HR – Hartsell