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The Franklin County Rebels lost to the Forrest Rockets 7-2 on the road Tuesday for their ninth loss of the season.

All of the runs for the contest were scored in the first two innings as the Rebels were unable to overcome a sizable early deficit.

The Rebels loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first as Gavin McBee and Layton Jones hit consecutive singles and Gus Gardner drew a walk.

Avery Jackson and Connor Parker recorded RBI singles later in the frame to give their team an early 2-0 advantage.

However, the Rockets responded quickly as a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the first tied the game at 2-2.

With two outs and only one runner on base in the bottom of the second, the Rockets drew three consecutive walks to allow the lead runner to score, and their next batter hit a grand-slam home run to put the Rebels in a 7-2 hole.

The Rebels loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the sixth as McBee, Jones and Ayden Hodosi each recorded singles in the frame. However, a pair of flyouts then ended the inning and stranded all three runners.

Ethan Stoltzfus hit a one-out single for the Rebels in the top of the seventh to give them a baserunner in the final inning, but a double play then ended the contest as the Rebels lost by five.

Avery Jackson pitched the first two innings for the Rebels with one strikeout, three hits, four walks and seven runs allowed for the day.

Colson Kelley pitched four scoreless innings in relief with eight strikeouts, one hit and three walks allowed.

With the loss, the Rebels moved to 13-9 on the season.

They will next play Wednesday at Lincoln County High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.