The Roadrunners won a defensive battle against visiting Winslow on Tuesday afternoon, coming out on top of a 4-2 decision over the Bulldogs.

Holbrook took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on singles by Caleb Layden, Ryan Baldonado and Levi Reyes, a walk and two costly errors. The margin grew to 3-0 in the top of the second on a walk, an error and a sacrifice. The Roadrunners made it 4-0 in the top of the fifth on a walk, a triple by Austin Lozano and an error.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a walk and a double by Matt Smith. Winslow’s final run scored in the bottom of the seventh on a hit batsman, a single by Rhett Hardy, a double by Johnny Woods and an error, but it was not enough to catch the Roadrunners.

Ilacian Johnson earned the win. In five innings he faced 23 batters and allowed just one earned run on one hit with nine strikeouts and five walks. Layden pitched 12/3 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits. Seneca Murphy faced four batters in one-third of an inning and gave up no runs with a pair of walks. All total, the Roadrunner pitching staff allowed just three hits in the win.

Smith took the loss, giving up four runs, only one of which was earned, in five innings of work. He allowed just five hits and four walks while fanning six. Vittorio Sells worked the final inning and allowed a walk as the only Roadrunner to reach base against him.

At the plate Holbrook connected for only five hits, but turned those five hits into four runs. Blake Maestas went zero for one, but drew two walks and scored a run. Layden went two for three and scored twice. Lozano was one for two with an RBI triple. Baldonado was one for three with an RBI and scored a run. Reyes went one for two with an RBI. Dylan Barela was also credited with an RBI.

Winslow had only three hits. Woods was one for three with a double. Smith and Hardy were each one for four, with Smith having a triple.

Winslow 000 010 1 2

Holbrook 210 010 x 4

With the win the Roadrunners improved to 11-8 on the season. After wrapping up the regular season with a doubleheader at Chinle on Wednesday and a trip to Ganado on Thursday, they will prepare for the 3A North Regional Tournament, which begins on Tuesday. Seedings for the tournament are based on power points.

The loss left the Bulldogs with a 15-9 record for the season. They were slated to wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader at Window Rock on Thursday afternoon.