Lee’s Two Home Runs Power Tri-County Baseball to Dominant 11-1 Win Over Marshall

Junior Kahle Lee launched a pair of home runs and drove in three, sparking the Tri-County varsity baseball team to a decisive 11-1 victory over Marshall on Friday. The non-conference home matchup was shortened to five innings after an explosive offensive showcase by the Titans.

Marshall managed to strike first, taking a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, Tri-County immediately erased the deficit, pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom half of the frame to take a lead they would never relinquish.

The game broke wide open in the third inning when the Titans erupted for six runs. The power surge was the defining story of the afternoon. Tri-County blasted three home runs as a team, anchored by Lee’s perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate. Sophomore Chase Rhode also got in on the action, sending a pitch over the fence and finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Tri-County’s offense pounded out 10 hits in total. Sophomore Anthony Smith helped set the table, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while freshman Abdisa Eskew made the most of his lone plate appearance with an RBI knock.

On the mound, Smith did double duty. The sophomore battled through three innings to earn the win, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out five. Sophomore Gavin Ruff then took the ball in relief and slammed the door, tossing two scoreless innings. Ruff yielded only one hit, walked none, and struck out four to secure the save.

Defensively, Tri-County provided their pitching staff with flawless backing. The Titans committed zero errors in the field, contrasting sharply with a Marshall defense that struggled with two costly miscues. Marshall’s offense was largely stifled by the Smith-Ruff tandem, managing just two hits on the day—one apiece from Garrett Pugh and Cage Stuckey.

The victory improves Tri-County’s season as they continue to lean on a potent mix of underclassmen talent and steady pitching.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Inning:

  • Marshall: Scored one run to take an early 1-0 lead.

  • TC (CO-OP): Answered immediately with two runs to capture the lead for good.

• 3rd Inning:

  • TC (CO-OP): Exploded for six runs, highlighted by a barrage of home runs.

• 4th Inning:

  • TC (CO-OP): Added two insurance runs to push the lead to nine.

• 5th Inning:

  • TC (CO-OP): Pushed across a final run to seal the 11-1 mercy-rule victory.

Individual Statistics

• BATTING: TC (CO-OP) – Kahle Lee (Jr): 2-2, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB; Chase Rhode (So): 2-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R; Anthony Smith (So): 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 R; Abdisa Eskew (Fr): 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 R; Will Dudley (Sr): 0-2, 2 R, 1 BB. Marshall – Garrett Pugh: 1-3, 1 R; Cage Stuckey: 1-1, 1 BB.

• PITCHING: TC (CO-OP) – Anthony Smith (W): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 4 BB; Gavin Ruff (SV): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB. Marshall – Liam Keim (L): 1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 K, 4 BB; Shane Tarble: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 K, 1 BB.

• FIELDING: TC (CO-OP) – 1.000 Fielding Percentage, 0 Errors, 15 Total Chances. Marshall – .944 Fielding Percentage, 2 Errors, 18 Total Chances.

• BASERUNNING: TC (CO-OP) – Hunter Reese (So): 1 SB. Marshall – Gavan Propst: 1 SB; Shane Tarble: 1 SB.