The Benton Tigers are in a familiar position after Game 1 of their best-of-3 non-select Division I quarterfinal series.
Benton, the No. 6 seed, fell to No. 14 Destrehan 4-2 Thursday night at Benton. Last week, the Tigers lost Game 1 of their second-round series to St. Amant then swept a Saturday doubleheader.
Benton (29-7-2) must win Game 2 Friday to force a decisive Game 3 Saturday. Game 2 is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and Game 3 at noon.
Thursday’s game was scoreless through the first five innings as the starting pitchers for both teams dominated.
Destrehan (28-12) finally broke through in the sixth, scoring four runs. The first came after a leadoff single followed by a walk and two hit-by-pitches. The last three came on a bases-loaded double by Jaden Sloan with two outs.
Benton rallied in the bottom of the inning. Case Jorden led off with a single and scored on a triple by Brody Turnipseed. Cole Snell brought Turnipseed home with a sacrifice fly. But that was all the damage the Tigers could do.
Benton got a runner on base with one out in the seventh, but two strikeouts ended the game.
Benton starter Bud Burns allowed two hits, struck out five and walked three in five innings. Bryson Gates and Beckett Moore pitched one scoreless inning each in relief.
Turnipseed had two of the Tigers’ four hits. Jorden and Burns had one single each.
Destrehan starter Chase Mire allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two in 5 2/3 innings. Chase Marcotte didn’t allow a hit or walk and struck out three in 1 1/3 innings of relief.