The Red Raiders fell in heartbreaking fashion Thursday. However, less than 24 hours later, the Red Raiders were on the field and eventually topping the Hilltoppers in a runaway 8-2 Laurel Highlands showdown

“That was a tough loss (on Thursday). Tyrone’s a scrappy team. They’re always well coached and in the game,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “It took us everything we could just to get one run across and to lose in the fashion we did yesterday. But it’s a wuick turnaround, it’s not even a full day because you’re playing at one o’clock.”

Triston Heeman got the win for Bellefonte while Noah Subich took the loss.

“We said we had to turn the page and our guys did that today,” said Clark. “It was a good way to bounce back.”

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.

It didn’t take long for the Red Raiders to get on the board. After holding the Hilltoppers scoreless in the first, Bellefonte’s top of the line up made an early statement.

Zach Lehman started things off with blasting a double to produce the spark. Evan Mattern brought in a hustling Lehman as he followed with a double of his own. Parker VanGunden followed with a walk. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch.

Bellefonte made it 2-0 on a sizzling single by Quinton Crouthamel. Mattern scored and VanGunden moved up to third on the single.

VanGunden scored the third Bellefonte run of the evening thanks to Jack McHail’s sacrifice fly to right which allowed VanGunden to tag up and score.

After a scoreless second inning by both team’s, Westmont made its first an only run at the deficit as it collected two runs on hits by Sully Weir, Goodman and Justin Ray.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.

Teammate Dom Chiodo picked up an RBI walk with the bases loaded later in the inning.

From there, the Bellefonte pitching and defense took care of the momentum as they refused to allow any more runs the entire contest.

However, the Red Raiders were just beginning.

In the fourth inning, Bellefonte’s top started to extend their lead, posting two more runs to go up 5-2. With one out, Cole Houser walked and stole second. Braeden Fortney singled to put runners on the corners. Lehman sacrificed in Houser hitting a blast to the outfield.

Fortney scored on a Hilltoppers miscue to end the scoring in the inning. Offensively, the Red Raiders weren’t done quite yet as they added two more in the fifth and sixth innings to solidify the win as they sent Westmont Hilltop packing, falling 8-2.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.

Bellefonte has one official game remaining and that is a battle with Central next week.

Bellefonte 8, Westmont Hilltop 2

Westmont Hilltop 002 000 0 — 2 7 4

Bellefonte 300 221 x — 8 11 1

W: Triston Heeman. L: Noah Subich.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.

Top Westmont Hilltop hitters: Bryce Goodman 2-4, 2B, run; Caleb Oakley 3-3, 2B. Top Bellefonte hitters: Zach Lehman 2-4, 2B; Quinton Crouthamel 2-3, 2B, RBI.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte competed against Westmont Hilltop on Friday afternoon.