Winning ugly is still a win – and the Wright City baseball team will take it.

The Wildcats committed five errors in the field and came back from deficits three separate times in squeaking out an 8-7 win against Mark Twain on Tuesday.

Wright City trailed 6-5 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but aggressive play on the base paths and small ball helped the Wildcats steal the lead back. Sophomore Chase Holmes drew a walk to start things off for Wright City, and Michael Holmes reached base with a bunt single. The junior went 2-for-3 in the game, both of those hits coming off the bunt.

Wright City Head Coach Shannon Wells said the Wildcats took what the Mark Twain defense gave them.

“We knew with the group we had tonight we weren’t going to be a big hitting team, so we had to finesse things a little,” Wells said. “We read their defense really well early on. Their third baseman was playing pretty deep, so we were going to challenge him and make their defense make plays.”

A two-RBI single by Justin Bote gave the Wildcats a 7-6 lead. Senior Kyle Tuepker scored later in the inning off another Mark Twain defensive miscue.

Mark Twain made it interesting in the top of the seventh when two Wright City fielding errors and a walk scored a run and loaded the bases. Tuepker entered the game in relief of Bote, striking out two consecutive batters to end the game and earn the save.

“The kids did a good job of keeping their calm,” Wells said. “We didn’t play with the lead very well, but our pitching really helped us out there in the end. The kids are experienced enough to know they can win any game they play.”

Mark Twain jumped out to a 2-0 lead to open the game, but Wright City scored three runs in the bottom half of the first to take a lead. Tuepker and Bote drove in runs in the inning.

After Mark Twain scored three runs in the top of the third, Wright City tied the game at five an inning later. 

Junior Tanner Riley doubled to start the inning and scored from third when the Mark Twain catcher attempted to pick off a Wright City player stealing second. Another run scored on a Mark Twain error.

“It’s our hallmark,” Wells said of the Wildcat’s aggressive base running. “That’s one of the biggest things we teach them and that we work on.”

For Wright City, Bote had two hits. The junior also grabbed the win on the mound after relieving Riley in the top of the fourth inning. He allowed one hit and struck out five. Tuepker also had two hits in the game. Junior Clayton Sharp also had a hit in the game. 

Riley opened the game on the mound for the Wildcats, scattering five hits in three innings of work. 

The Wildcats (8-2) face Warrenton on Thursday.