Wylie’s Noah Smith looks at home plate during a play in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff series against Rockwall on Wednesday. The Pirates lost Game 2, 9-2, Thursday at Rockwall. Photo by Elijah Kloepping / C&S Media

By David Wolman

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ROCKWALL — After holding on for a 3-2 win over Rockwall in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff series, the Wylie baseball team was unable to keep pace with the Yellowjackets in a 9-2 loss in Game 2 at Randy Talley Field on Thursday.

The loss forces a deciding, winner-take-all Game 3, set for noon Saturday at Forney High School.

Wylie nearly struck for the game’s first run. Noah Smith hit a line-drive single into right field to begin the game, stole second base and later advanced to third on a groundout. For a moment, it appeared Smith would score easily on the ensuing play, but Yellowjackets left fielder Hudson Holt made a diving catch to rob Preston Camp of a run-scoring hit.

Rockwall hit the ball hard to begin its half of the first inning, and a pair of defensive mistakes by Wylie allowed the Yellowjackets to take a commanding 4-0 lead.

Indecision on a bunt in front of the mound led to an off-target throw, allowing the first run to score. An error on a botched pickoff attempt at third resulted in a wide throw that allowed another run to score. Reid Overstreet added an RBI groundout, and Zach Barnes increased the lead to 4-0 with an RBI single.

Rockwall’s lead grew to 5-0 on an RBI groundout by Dylan Cheek.

Wylie finally converted with runners on base in the third inning, thanks to two well-placed bunts that rolled along the foul line but stayed fair. Aiden Beck reached safely after a dropped throw at first base. Camp followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored a run and cut the deficit to 5-2.

The pitching of Wyatt Wynne and Cooper Watts kept Wylie within striking distance, but the Pirates’ defense had tough luck on a fly ball in the fourth inning.

Cheek reached third with a triple after a fly ball fell just out of reach of two diving Wylie outfielders, plating another run. Cheek scored on a wild pitch moments later for a 7-2 lead.

Rockwall added two more runs in the sixth — the first on a sacrifice fly and the second on a throwing error — extending the lead to 9-2.

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