Bratcher Dazzles as Cats Shutout Brighton

Senior pitcher Mason Bratcher pitched six perfect innings, then gave up a single in the seventh inning with one out. He maturely shut down the final two batters as Tullahoma shut out Brighton 8-0 Tuesday night at Grider Stadium. Bratcher struck out 14 batters, including 10 of the first 13, and was untouchable except for one bat swing. 

The Wildcats (4-6) have now won four consecutive games. In those four games, Tullahoma has outscored Cookeville 7-1, FRA 11-0, Columbia 6-0, and Brighton 8-0. That is three consecutive shutouts with two no-hitters. More about that later. 

Bratcher was also 2---2 with two sacrifice flies, two singles, and two RBI. Philip Lemon had two hits and scored a run, Trevor Cole reached base three times and scored twice, Hunter Hogan was 0-1 but reached on an error and a walk and scored twice. Baylan Tuten had a two-run single in the fourth inning. 

The Cats broke up a scoreless dual between Bratcher and Brighton pitcher Brady Ray in the third inning. Hogan reached on an error, Cole singled, Tuten advanced the runners, and Fulmer drove in Hogan with a single. Bratcher drove in Cole with a sacrifice fly, giving the Cats a 2-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Lemon led off with a single and Andrew Zebick reached on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Hogan walked, Cole reached on an error, and Tuten drove them home. Tullahoma scored two more in the sixth and seventh innings. 

Against FRA last week, Grayson Waller and Ben Quick combined for a 5-inning no-hitter with 11 strikeouts. In Monday’s win over Columbia, Tuten tossed a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts, and Bracher added his brilliant performance Tuesday. 

Combined, that is 19 innings with 40 strikeouts and one hit allowed. They were two outs away from three consecutive no-hitters. 

Tullahoma will host Spring Hill on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Grider Stadium.