Lovejoy Baseball Defeats Corsicana 7-1 in Game 1 Behind Tanner Brown and Reed Blakely

A playoff series between two programs can turn on a single defensive play, and Lovejoy got exactly that in the opening inning. Tanner Brown snagged a line drive and doubled off the runner at first to kill a Corsicana threat before it could develop.

The visiting Tigers still managed to draw first blood when Sean Medrano drove a shot to the right-center wall that plated Brody Dobbs for a 1-0 lead. Tyler Junior College commit Connor Perkins had given Corsicana a strong start on the mound with a 1-2-3 first inning.

Lovejoy answered quickly, tying the game before Liam Quinlan pushed a run up the gut to score Ben Reinhard in the bottom of the second, giving the Leopards a 2-1 advantage they wouldn't relinquish.

The Leopards added insurance in the third, then broke it open in the fifth. Brown tagged one down the left field line that allowed USC commit Reed Blakely to score easily, followed by Zach Carlson crossing the plate to make it 5-1. Lovejoy cruised from there, taking Game 1 of the potential three-game series by a final of 7-1.