HMS Tigers fall to Ascension Catholic in second round

No. 14 seeded Ascension Catholic pulled out a hard-fought 6-3 victory over the No. 3 Hanson Memorial Tigers Tuesday in the Class 1A state playoffs regionnal round at the Amar Lancon Field.
Ascension Catholic collected four runs in the third frame while manufacturing one apiece in the sixth and seven innings to earn the 6-3 win.
Hanson (23-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chase Mensman beat out a throw at first base before swiping third base and scoring on a throwing error.
Landry brought the Bulldogs back in grand style in the top half of the third inning when he cracked a grand slam, helping Ascension Catholic wipe out the 1-0 deficit, replacing it with a 4-1 advantage.
The Tigers also showed they could play long ball when Jacob Hebert slapped a solo shot to over the left field fence, enabling HMS to pull within two runs of Ascension Catholic at 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Hanson manufactured one run in the bottom half of the fifth frame after Bo Barrilleaux reached on an error before Cameron Stovall laced a double to the fence in centerfield. At the crack of the bat, Barrilleaux raced to third base before tagging home plate as the Tigers closed the gap at 4-3 in the inning.
Hanson could not get any closer as the Bulldogs managed one run in the top half of the sixth frame and an insurance run in the top half of the seventh inning, earning the 6-3 regional round victory.
Ascension Catholic pitcher Landon Clifton notched the mound victory after tossing a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.
Hanson’s Jacob Hebert suffered his first loss of the season to finish at 5-1. He pitched three innings, giving up four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Evan Thibodeaux pitched two scoreless frames while allowing three hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Brennan Young hurled the final two innings, giving up two runs on three hits with two walks.
Leading hitters for the Tigers were: Bo Barrilleaux, 1 for 4, run; Cameron Stovall, 2 for 3, RBI; Jacob Hebert, 1 for 2, home run, run, RBI and Chase Mensman, 1 for 3, run.
Hanson finished the season with a 23-3 overall mark.