SAND ROCK – Sand Rock’s Cody Beck scattered four runs on seven hits and finished with eight strikeouts in seven innings, but the Wildcats fell 4-1 to No. 9 Westbrook Christian to open Class 2A, Area 12 play on Tuesday.

Sand Rock (6-7, 0-1) had a tough time getting timely hits against the Warrior ace, Chase Saunders. He allowed just two hits and fanned eight in earning the win for Westbrook (11-7, 1-0).

“We had some runners on base with some opportunities, but we just didn’t cash in on them,” Sand Rock coach Eddy Norris said. “They had a couple of timely hits that were the difference in the game, and baseball’s about timely hitting. They put the ball in play more than we did. We had some good swings on the ball today, but we just didn’t make contact.”

The Warriors’ Matt Gross got Westbrook going in the top of the first. He singled and later scored on Jacob Mayfield’s two-run homer.

Gross led the Warriors at the plate for the day, going 3 for 4 and scoring a pair of runs.

Westbrook added two more runs in the third. Chad Sharp doubled to right to lead off the inning and later scored on Gross’ single down the third base line with one out. Saunders brought Gross home on a single to center, giving the Warriors a 4-0 lead.

Sand Rock pushed its lone run across in the bottom of the third. First baseman Riley Norris singled to center, stole second base and came home on an infield single by Chad Thompson, making it 4-1 Warriors.

Both Riley Norris and Thompson went 1 for 2 at the plate.

However, Saunders dug down to finish out the game.

“Their No. 1 was solid today,” Norris said. “He was in command. He was establishing his fastball until we could hit it. When we could hit it, then he started locating his other pitches. He’s good, and they’re good. Their players know how to play the game.”

Saunders’ outing spoiled a solid performance by Beck, but the Wildcats just couldn’t string together enough hits to give him more run support.

“Our pitcher did a good enough job on the mound, kept us in the game and gave us an opportunity,” Norris said of Beck. “We had eight strikeouts and eight fly balls, but we’ve got to do a better job of hitting with two strikes.

“When our guy comes on the mound and does a good job like he did today, we’ve got to have somebody step up and come up with a big base hit.”

The two teams conclude the series on Thursday in Rainbow City beginning at 4:30 p.m.