H.S. baseball: Lubbock-Cooper stops Abilene Cooper behind Qualia's 3-hitter
WOODROW – Lubbock-Cooper erupted for six runs in the third inning, and Jacob Qualia hurled a three-hitter as the Pirates beat Abilene Cooper 8-1 in a District 4-5A baseball game Tuesday night.
Abilene Cooper (10-7 overall, 2-4 district) leapt to a 1-0 lead when Jaden Smith opened the game with a double and scored on Alejandro Ibarra’s sacrifice fly.
The lead lasted until Bryce LeBlanc led off the bottom of the third inning with a home run. Gus Cook and Tanner Spruiell followed with consecutive triples to spark a six-run inning for the Pirates.
Lubbock-Cooper added two more runs in the sixth.
Qualia struck out five and walked two in going the distance for the Pirates (10-12, 3-3).
Smith took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits in 2.1 innings. He struck out four and walked four. Ibarra gave up two runs on three hits in three innings of relief. He struck out one and walked one. Jace Crawford got the final two outs, allowing a hit and walking one.
The teams play again Friday in Abilene.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Lubbock-Cooper stymies Abilene Cooper in District 4-5A baseball action
