"Now, fellows, this is our last chance," said Bob, as the team came in for the ninth inning. "Remember, one run will tie the score and two runs may win the game. Now every man up on the job."
The first batter for Brill in the ninth inning was plainly nervous. He let two good balls go by and thereby had two strikes called on him. Then he made a wild pass at the next ball, knocking a short foul which the first baseman for Roxley gathered in by a sensational running leap.
"One man gone! One man gone!" chanted the Roxley followers. "Now, then, get the other two."
"Take your time, boys, take your time," cried Bob. "Make them give you just what you want."
This advice was heeded, and as a result the next man got to first and on another one-base hit managed to reach third. Then came a one-bag drive that brought in a run and took the man on first to second.
"Hurrah! Hurrah! That ties the score!"
"Keep it up, Brill! Bring in all the runs you can!"
Following the bringing in of the tying run, there came some field play between the pitcher and the basemen, and as a result the man who had reached first was called out trying to steal second. In the mean time the other runner tried to steal home, but had to stay on third.
"Be careful, boys, be careful," pleaded Bob, and then a few seconds later came another base hit which brought in another run.
"Good! Good! That's the way to do it, Brill!"