In a back-and-forth battle to open the season, the Madrid baseball team came up just short, falling 10-9 to Woodward-Granger Tuesday, May 27, in Granger. 

Woodward-Granger built an early lead, scoring in five of seven innings, including a pair of crucial runs in the top of the seventh.  

Madrid mounted a comeback, highlighted by a five-run sixth inning that briefly gave the Tigers the lead, but couldn’t hold off the Hawks in the final inning. 

Kole Deppe sparked the offense with two hits and three runs scored, while Kolbie Owens delivered two hits and four RBIs.  

Emerson Bridgewater also added two hits in the effort. 

Deppe started on the mound and took the loss, recording one strikeout.  

Preston Wicker provided solid relief, pitching four innings and striking out two. 

Madrid begins the season 0-1 and will look to bounce back Thursday, May 29, when it travels to Earlham (0-1) for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. 

Jill Lutz reporting