For want of a few clutch hits, the Lord Botetourt baseball team lost two games in the past week. LB left 24 runners stranded in two games as the Cavs dropped a 6-4 decision to Alleghany and a 6-0 game to Salem, both in Daleville.

The Cavs led 3-2 over Alleghany after six innings last week, but the Mountaineers plated four in the top of the seventh to take a 6-3 lead. LB scored one in the bottom of the inning and left the potential tying runs on second and third as the game ended, totaling 11 runners left on base for the game. Patrick Kepler took the loss on the mound in relief of Dakota Duke, who pitched four solid innings.

On Monday, also at home, Botetourt left 13 on base in the loss to Salem. The Cavaliers left the bases loaded in each of the first three innings without scoring a single run.

“When you load the bases and don’t score, it really sets you back,” said LB coach Todd Smith. “We just needed a couple clutch hits.”

Kepler took the loss in this one as well despite allowing just three hits in five innings. The Cavs made some errors in the field, both mental and physical, that hurt the cause. Ty Maust had two hits to lead the attack.

The two losses dropped the Cavaliers to 4-3 on the season, and they’re off the rest of the week for spring break. LB returns April 19 with a game against county rival James River in Springwood.