MURFREESBORO -- Opportunity after opportunity slipped through second-seeded Cascade's fingertips as they dropped their District 9-A quarterfinal matchup with Middle Tennessee Christian 5-4 on a soggy Saturday night.

Jeffrey Comstock pounds out one of his five base hits. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Three hits, a walk and an error led to the host Cougars jumping out to a 4-0 first-inning lead against Champion ace pitcher Jeffrey Comstock.

"Like we've been saying all year long, if you do the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves and just one little bity thing, a ball hit back to the pitcher, we missed throwing it to the shortstop, and it led to them having the big inning," Cascade coach Chris Parker said.

The Champions (20-9) fall into the losers' bracket and take on Eagleville this afternoon at 5 at Middle Tennessee Christian. The Eagles lost to top-seeded Forrest 10-0 in five innings on Friday.

"Our backs are against the wall," Parker said. "I've got a bunch of young men with a lot of character. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we're going to show the world we've got a lot of character. We can win. I just have confidence in them that if we come out and play ball then we can get it done."

If Cascade does want to get it done, they will have to come up with timely hits with runners in scoring position. There's much room for improvement in that department after squandering numerous chances to score against Middle Tennessee Christian.

"The hardest thing to do in sports is to get that base hit with somebody in scoring position," Parker said. "It just slipped through our hands. If somebody just gets a 'judy' here or there, we win the ballgame. Any of those times with the bases loaded we get one out there in that tall, green grass and it falls in, we win the ballgame. It didn't go our way."

With two outs in the bottom of the third, Comstock reached via error. Tyler Bowman and J.R. Thomes drew walks to load the bases. Nick Davis came to the plate as the potential tying run but stuck out.

Matt Bain walked with one out in the fourth. Colt Davis singled. After Zack Hill popped up for the second out, a double steal put two Champs in scoring position. MoMo Stewart walked to fill the sacks. Comstock came through with an RBI single to plate their first run. But, Tyler Bowman flew out to right and three more runners were stranded.

The Cougars added a very important insurance run in the top of the sixth to increase their lead back to four at 5-1.

Bain was hit in the shoulder and Colt Davis singled to start a rally in the sixth. Hill hit into a fielder's choice and Stewart popped out. With two down, Comstock hustled out an infield hit and the Cougar first basemen misfired in attempt of throwing Bain out at the plate and two runs scored. Bowman got on base courtesy another Middle Tennessee Christian error. Thomes walked to fill the bases. Nick Davis was hit and Comstock scored to narrow the hosts' lead to 5-4. But, relief pitcher Parker Molitor struck out Levi Bain to leave three more ducks on the pond.

With one out in their final at-bat, Colt Davis worked his way on yet again after being hit by a pitch. Hill singled to put the potential game-winning run on first. Stewart popped up for the second out. Comstock legged another infield hit to load the bases. But, Cougar closer Jake Siler induced Bowman to foul out to end the game.

Tim Hendrix and Siler singled twice for Middle Tennessee Christian (16-14), who take on Forrest tonight at 7:30 in the winners' bracket final. Taylor Beckham was the winning pitcher.

Comstock took the loss on the mound but singled five times at the plate. Colt Davis finished with a pair of base hits.