MARION — On a night dominated by pitching and defense, Goreville junior Levi Damon delivered the game’s biggest hit, a 2-run single in the top of 10th to help the Blackcats to a 3-1 win over Anna-Jonesboro in a game played at Rent One Park in Marion.

Both starting pitchers were sensational–Aaron Sheffer for Anna-Jonesboro and Drake Moss for Goreville. The Blackcats scored a run in the top of the first but could not manage much else against Sheffer or reliever Daylon Buter.

The Wildcats had a couple of chances but could not push a run home. In the bottom of the fifth, Taj Hodges sent a gapper into right center that rolled all the way to the wall. Hodges was thrown out at the plate trying for an inside-the-park home run, with Goreville catcher Ian Sopczak laying out to make the tag just before Hodges touched the plate.

A-J finally broke through in sixth as Dylan Harvel singled off reliever Hunter Francis to score Drake Hartline, tying the game 1-1. Francis kept the Wildcats at bay the rest of the way setting the stage for Damon’s extra inning heroics.

The Blackcats improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 2-2.