Bryson Taylor threw a four-hit shutout and drove in two runs at the plate Monday to lift Chandler to a 5-0 district victory over Meeker.
He worked out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the fifth inning by inducing a double play ground ball and struck out five Bulldogs.
The win improved Chandler’s overall record to 4-5 going into Tuesday’s rematch with Meeker and was the Lions’ first district win against two losses.
The lost left Meeker at 9-3 overall and 2-1 in District 3A-3, pending the Tuesday game, which was played after the Lincoln County News press deadline.
The Lions got all the runs Taylor would need in the top of the first.
Christian Goeller banged a leadoff double to deep left field and later scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Rhett Haley scored on a wild pitch, as well, making the score 2-0.
Chandler was back on the board with a three-run, two-out rally in the fourth inning.
Goeller stroked a two-out double and scored on another double by Haley.
Taylor then closed out the scoring with a line drive single to center, scoring Haley and Maddox Metheny, who reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Goeller, Haley and Taylor were the offensive sparks for the Lions. Goeller had two doubles and scored two runs in his three at-bats, Haley had a double and a single and scored two runs. Taylor had his two-RBI single and was plunked by a pitch.
Taylor was around the strike zone all day, throwing 57 of his 97 pitches for strikes and walking only two batters.
For Meeker, Jason Key gave up five hits in five innings and struck out seven. Titus Grimes pitched the final two innings, striking out a pair and walking three.
Bryce Bussell, Key, Castin Schafer and Brodey Manning had the hits for Meeker.