The Capital City Cavaliers are on a winning streak.
Capital City followed its first win in program history with a second victory in as many days, defeating the Eldon Mustangs 9-8 on Tuesday at Capital City High School.
"It was a big monkey off everybody's back to know that they can win games," Capital City coach Brett Skinner said of Monday's 3-1 win at Waynesville. "Just give them a little bit of confidence. That's huge for everybody. Huge for the coaching staff. They've been working their butts off all year. For the parents and fans, cheering us on. It looks like we know how to win."
Eldon starting pitcher Kasen Bashore only let one of the first eight Cavalier batters reach base. But a single from No. 9 batter Justin Sullens began a two-out rally that would end with Capital City plating five runs.
Sullens' courtesy runner Zach Brown scored when Brock Miles hit one up the middle for a single and Noah Nicklas, who singled in the inning, scored when a throw to second base went into the outfield.
Then Taggert Bodenstab cleared the fence for the second time this season, blasting a three-run home run to right field for a 5-3 lead.
"He's just got such quick hands and that barrel gets through the zone quick," Skinner said. "That's a nice little power alley right there in right-center."
But neither team could grab a hold of the lead and run away with it.
After Eldon tied it at 5 in the fifth on Bashore's infield RBI single, Capital City came back with three runs in the bottom half.
Trey Jennings hit a high bouncer to left field to drive in a pair of runs with a single, making it 8-5.
Skinner was pleased with the Cavaliers' resilience.
"Especially for our young guys to not get down when bad things are happening," Skinner said. "I think wheels are starting to turn and we're starting to kind of understand it."
The Mustangs came back to tie it at 8 thanks in part to a Braydy Hill triple on a deep fly ball to left-center field that drove in two of the three runs in the sixth inning.
Hunter Hees also tripled for Eldon, launching a ball to right-center field to cap a three-run third inning with an RBI hit.
Capital City didn't have to hit it far to score the go-ahead run in the sixth.
Carlos Ayala reached base when the pitcher's throw to first on a ground ball took the first baseman off the bag.
Ayala's courtesy runner Isaiah Ntalamu went to second base on Sullens' sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.
"Justin handles the bat well," Skinner said. "I actually like the way he's been swinging it, but I trust him putting a bunt down too. Once that first guy going on, it was gonna be small ball."
That was the last time Capital City needed to make contact before scoring its final run.
Ntalamu reached third base on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.
Ayala finished off the victory with a strikeout, groundout and another strikeout in just 11 pitches, eight for strikes.
"His fastball is a little sneaky and he's got a good breaking ball that he can command for a strike," Skinner said.
It was the second save in two days for Ayala, who struck out four in two innings Monday.
"I think we're seeing something in the making there," Skinner said. "That's tough to do. He's done it two days in a row. Come in and just fill it up and pound the zone like he does. He's a good one. He pitches with energy."
The win went to Caydin Engelbrecht, who allowed four runs (three earned) and four hits with a walk in two innings of relief.
Brock Miles pitched the first four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and three hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Miles and Bodenstab each had two hits for Capital City (2-10), which had its best offensive production of the season Tuesday.
Hill, Bashore and Jude Rader collected two hits each for Eldon (5-16).
The Russellville Tournament is next on the scheduled for Capital City, which plays School of the Osage at 5 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the eight-team tournament.