La Joy waited and got his base on balls which was good judgment on Black’s part as it later developed. Warcford came to bat and struck viciously at the first ball and missed and the infield guessed that Sam was bound to hit it out. All but Hal did, at any rate, for when Miner pitched the next ball and Sam bunted Hal started on his bunt fielding run to the plate, and making a quick stop he threw to Delvin at third, forcing Hollins. Then, with Warcford on first, Twitchell hit a fast one to Case, who made a one-hand stop, threw to Hans who covered second, and then hustled back to first in time to receive Hans’ return throw completing a quick double play and retiring the side.
Hans came up in the Lowell half and got another double. Hal sacrificed him to third and it again looked as though Lowell might take the lead. Delvin made what ought to have been a hit, for he drove a fast liner toward first, but Church stabbed it after a mighty leap into the air, and there were two out. Then the Lowell hope died down once more when Gibbie hit one to Mellen, who threw him out to Church.
Brest struck at three fast ones and missed all of them. Mellen went out also on a grounder that was easy for Hans and Hal. Laird came along with a pretty single to left, but was immediately caught stealing, Gibbie to Hans.
In the Lowell half Black hit one between first and second, which Church fielded nicely and threw to Mellen who covered the bag.
Everson hit a bounder to Hollins who let it roll between his legs, and Johnny was safe. Larke hit one, which La Joy got with little effort and tossed to Hollins, forcing Everson. Larke immediately stole second, Roger’s throw being high. Talkington caught them all napping by bunting toward third and reached first safely. Then it was Robb’s turn and he tried hard swinging on the first ball pitched which was one of Mellen’s twisters again, and it went foul back of third and was caught by Hollins after a great run.
The eighth started well and ended badly for Lowell.
Tommy tried for his usual two bagger, but Talkington got in the way of his fast liner after a mighty run and there was one gone.
Church tried to put one in short right but it went up in the air and foul. Case got it after a backward run near the first row of the grand stand.
Hollins dropped a short bunt in front of the plate and Gibbie fumbled it. Hollins was easily safe. It did not look bad to Black, however, as there were two out and the boys were fielding nobly, and Miner intended to make the next batter knock a fly if he hit it at all. It happened, however, to be La Joy. Larry fouled off four and it was certain in Black’s mind that if the kind of balls he was pitching were hit they would go up in the air, so he put over another one. Larry acted badly, however, for he straightened out that curve for a two bagger between Robb and Talkington, which scored Hollins. This rather got Black’s nerves temporarily and he didn’t have perfect control of himself. When Warcford stepped to the plate, Gibbie signaled for a low ball. Black insisted upon sending them up on the inside. Here is where Black went wrong, for Warcford hit the first one for a single to left and La Joy scored from second. Two runs in and both of them after two were out and it looked like the game. To complete the inning, Warcford tried to steal, but Gibbie nailed him by four feet on a perfect throw to Everson and the inning ended with the score 5 to 3 in favor of Jefferson.
It looked bad for Lowell, as they had been behind at all stages of the contest and the score as it stood then, taking into consideration the high-class fielding of both teams, made it look as though Lowell was surely beaten.