A late rally by Post 23 came up short Wednesday as visiting Ashland Post 76 took the contest 8-4 and swept the two-game series at Branch Rickey Park.

The Sixers scored all eight of their runs in the first three innings and chased Post 23 starter Rob Dwyer from the contest.

“I thought he threw the ball well, I thought he had decent velocity,” Post 23 coach Jack Branon said. “...But he's had trouble throwing the ball in the strike zone.”

While Dwyer struggled to get the ball in the zone, Branon credited Post 76 with its plate discipline.

Dwyer's replacement, Tate Bailey, was able to hold the Sixers scoreless for the remaining four innings of the game.

“He just came out and threw strikes,” Branon said. “I thought he was very effective...”He gave us a shot (to come back).”

Alex Hartley and Matt Ratcliff each led Post 23 at the plate with 2-for-3 performances at the plate.

Post 23 travels today to Morehead, Kentucky to take on Post 126 in a two-game set.

CODY LEIST can be reached at cleist@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at (740) 353-3101 ext. 242.

Post 76 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 – 8 8 1

Post 23 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 4 6 3

Post 76 – Anderson 1-5 (2 R), Jones 2-3 (2B, 2 R), Certain 1-3 (2B), Pancake 2-3 (SB, 2 R), D. Delaney 1-3 (2 SB), Mills 1-4 (1 R).

Post 23 – Knittel 1-4 (RBI, R),Loop 0-1 (RBI), Hartley 2-4 (2B, RBI), Riehl 1-4, Ratcliff 2-4, Boyer 0-3 (1 R), Holcomb (SB, R scored in 6th for Ratcliff)

WP – Dickess

LP – Dwyer (0-3)

Records – Post 76 17-3; Post 23 17-13.