Corday, however, was not a heavy hitter, and the best he could do was to sacrifice the runner to third.
With two out, Webster came to the plate.
Hodge called for the double-shoot, but Merry shook his head. Bart was puzzled, as Frank had ceased using that curve after the first inning.
Webster was crafty and did not try to kill the ball. Instead he hit it just hard enough to drop it over the infield, and McGlinkey came racing home with the score that tied.
Hodge was angry.
“What’s the use?” he muttered to himself: “Merry might have stopped that score. Why won’t he use the double?”
“Hard luck, Merriwell,” grinned Robinson. “But you have done very well for a youngster. You’ll make a good pitcher with more experience.”
“Thank you!” said Frank, aroused by the words of the man.
Then he proceeded to strike out Robinson in short order, saying, as Nick fanned the final time:
“Too bad, Mr. Robinson! You’ll make a batter some day, but you’ll have to learn to hit those easy ones. Almost anybody ought to hit those.”