By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

MONTGOMERY — The Bridge City Cardinals fell short in Game One of their Class 4A Region III semifinal series Thursday night against the China Springs Cougars, falling 5-2 at Montgomery High School.

The Cardinals (20-13) were plagued by defensive mistakes all night. Four of the five runs the Cougars (24-9) scored were unearned on the night.

The Cardinals will look to bounce back defensively Saturday with Game Two of the series back at Montgomery High School at 4 p.m. with Game Three to follow if necessary.

Payton Havard tossed five innings for the Cardinals, striking out six, while Kevin Gordon tossed the sixth inning.

Carson Bell earned the win for the Cougars and had four strikeouts on the night.

Bridge City got on the board first in the second inning. Luc Hollier started off with a lead off single, Jackson Tims reached on a hit, but the right fielder for China Springs muffed it and Hollier scored on the play. Taron Burch knocked in Tims from third base with a sac bunt as the Cardinals snagged a early 2-0 cushion.

The Cougars struck back with offense in the top of the third inning. Blake Golden reached base on a bloop single into right field, stole second and was moved to third on a sac ground ball by Camden Johnson. Payton Spell brought in Golden with a single for the team’s first run. Brett Cain hit a single to right, but the right fielder muffed the ball and Spell was able to score all the way from first on the play to tie the game.

China Springs got the offense going again in the top of the sixth inning. Brett Cain lead off with a single and Levi Bass brought him home with a long double to left field. On the next at bat Brayden Mathis laid down a sac bunt but was overthrown to third base for a score as the Cougars went up 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning.

In the same inning Mathis would score off of a Traveler Surley grounder to second and Mathis beats out the throw to home. The Cougars go up late in the game with a big three-run inning to snag a 5-2 edge.

Bridge City entered the bottom of the seventh inning needing at least three runs to have a chance. Gavin Green lead off with a great hit to center but was robbed with a diving catch by the center fielder. The Cardinals didn’t find enough offense to overcome some tough plays in the field.

Schuyler Thibodaux had two hits for the Cardinals.

The winner of the Bridge City-China Spring series will take on Waco Robinson in the 4A Region III Finals next week.