Baseball: Rozi Hathaway stars as New Forest Thunder Knights split games with Bournemouth Bears

Rozi Hathaway’s excellent defensive performance helped the New Forest Thunder Knights split two competitive games against the Bournemouth Bears.

In their first home game of the season, the Knights battled back from a five-run deficit to beat their local rivals in game one.

After sponsors, the New Forest Academy of Dance, had thrown out the first pitch, the Bears put five runs on the board to get the game going.

In response, Alex Frampton hit his first-ever home run with a towering drive to centre field.

A back-and-forth second inning had the score at 7-3 to the visitors, but the Knights added five runs in the third to get themselves back in the game.

Warren Doyle and Mitch Sullivan both drove in runs before Doyle added the fifth of the inning by stealing home between pitches.

In the final inning, with the scores tied at eight apeice, the Knights got their first walk-off win of the season. With the bases loaded after the pitcher hit three consecutive batters, Chris Lawson showed excellent judgement at the plate before coming up with the knock to drive in the ninth and winning run.

In the second game, the Bears picked up an 8-6 win which see-sawed throughout.

Despite the loss, Hathaway's performance at second base was immense. As well as starting a double play with Lawson and Dan Churchill, she recorded three further defensive assists and was calm throughout.

Churchill's defensive play was excellent, taking two tough catches in the infield, while Amber Rainbird also made her debut, playing well in both games at right field.

In the end, hits from Marcus Senior – who also struck out six Bears on the afternoon – Lawson and two from Sam Williams were not enough for the home side.

The New Forest Thunder Knights are back in action – against Bournemouth Bears again – away from home on 28th May.