The Escambia County Blue Devils’ baseball couldn’t answer Thomasville High School’s offensive explosion Thursday afternoon in a 19-0 area loss.

The Blue Devils’ offense could only muster four hits in the loss to the eighth-ranked Tigers.

This was the fourth straight loss for the Blue Devils in a game against a top-10 team; the previous three were UMS-Wright. ECHS’ record falls to 6-8 with the loss.

“I give all the credit to their hitting,” said Blue Devils’ coach Gavin King. “They hit the ball extremely well.”

Thursday was the worst loss all year for the Blue Devils, who were scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Tigers on the road Friday afternoon, but results weren’t available as of press time.

The scoring starting early for the Tigers as Blue Devils’ starting pitcher Tyler Sanspree gave up three runs in the top of the first.

Anthony Matthews reached first base for the Blue Devils with one out in the bottom of the inning, but was stranded when Malcolm Black and Justin Davis both struck out to end the inning.

Thomasville added to their lead in the top of the second inning with a leadoff bunt single, a single and a double that made it 4-0 with no outs. The increased the lead to five nothing on a passed ball and scored again on a double during the next at-bat to make it 6-0.

The Blue Devils then gave up a single, a steal and Sanspree hit a batter to load the bases. The Tigers scored two more runs during the next at-bat to go up 8-0 and later increased it to 10-0.

Thomasville batted around with one out and scored two more runs before the Blue Devils threw out a batter on a fielder’s choice that made the score 13-0. The Blue Devils got the final out of the inning on a fielder’s choice to second, but not before Thomasville scored one more run to make it 14-0.

ECHS’ Wesley Jefferson was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the second inning. He stole second during the next at-bat, but Matthew Quimby struck out for the first out.

Jefferson took third on a passed ball, but Sanspree struck out for the second out of the inning. Gage White struck out for the final out of the inning.

The Blue Devils’ defense responded in the top of the third getting the first two Thomasville batters out to start the frame before allowing a single. The third out came on a play from shortstop to first base.

After David Johnson was thrown out at first for the Blue Devils in the bottom half of the third, Dandrez McCarthy singled, but was caught stealing second during the next at-bat for the second out. Matthews was thrown out at first to end the inning.

The Blue Devils allowed a leadoff single in the top of the fourth before recording an out on a fielder’s choice. The Tigers went up 15-0 on a single during the next at-bat.

A double, walk and a single gave Thomasville another score to make it 16-0 with one out. Another single plated another run for the Tigers at 17-0. Another single and a fielder’s choice gave Thomasville a 19-0 lead.

The Blue Devils’ hitters were retired in order in the bottom of the fourth.

ECHS’ relief pitcher Anthony Morris recorded a strikeout and a groundout with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth to end the Tigers threat.

Thomasville recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the fifth inning before Morris hit a double. Johnson followed that up with a single that moved Morris to third. McCarthy struck out to end the game.

The Blue Devils take on Clarke County at home at 4 p.m. Wednesday.