In the third game in the first round two of the top teams in Region 4 squared off in an unexpected first round match up. The Logan County Cougars and District 13 champions would take on the Bowling Green Purples in the first round.

After seeing what one school in Logan County could do the Purples decided they were not taking any chances with the dangerous Cougars squad and geared their ace in hopes of shutting down the Cougars.

The Purples ace held the Cougars offense down, while their offensive juggernaut rattled off 17 hits and nine runs in the 9-4 loss for the Cougars.

In the first inning though the Cougars managed to scrap together some walks and some errors on the Purples and pushed across a lone run to go up 1-0 after one inning.

The Purples and Cougars would exchange scoreless innings before Bowling Green would tie it up in the third inning. The Cougars just couldn't get anything going as the Purples ace brought his A game as he touched 90 mph on the gun more than once.

Then in the top of the fourth the wheels came off as Thomas Miller, who wasn't at 100%, got chased from the game and his relief, Caleb Bruner did little to slow down the monster that was the Purples offense as they accounted for seven runs in the fourth.

That looked to be the knock out blow but the Cougars showed their resilience like they had all season and hung around and chased the Purples ace from the ball game.

Then in the bottom of the seventh the Cougars mounted a furious rally.

With two outs they managed to walk in a run and were poised to close up the game if not tie it, but the Purples defense held fast and kept the Cougars from doing just that as they held on to hand Logan County the 9-4 loss.

Look for more in depth coverage in Friday's News-Democrat&Leader.