ASHEVILLE � Twice this season, Tuscola has given Roberson all it could handle on the baseball diamond, and both times, the Rams won it in the seventh inning.

A controversial interference call for the third out nullified a would-be go-ahead run for the Mountaineers in the top of the seventh inning and the Rams took advantage of the break, with Chris Price singling home Brian Medlock for the 2-1 win Tuesday at Roberson.

"I don�t know what was going on," Price said of his 0-for-3 performance prior to getting the game-winner. "A lot of stuff happened to me, and I didn�t have very good at-bats. I was doing whatever I could to advance the runner or get on base."

The game was one of three involving Western North Carolina teams in the first round of the state 3-A baseball tournament.

"It was a good one for us," said Price. "It shows us that we can�t just cruise in here."

After Eryk McConnell doubled and scored to give the Mountaineers (17-6) a third-inning lead, Roberson (22-1) answered in the bottom half of the frame with Medlock leading off with a single, stealing second and scoring on Ryan Deans� single.

Despite a couple of threats from both teams, the score remained until the seventh, when Lucas Grasty hit a one-out double down the leftfield line from the bottom of the order. Mark Golden followed with a long single to center, but Grasty had to hold at third after waiting at the previous base on the outcome of the fly ball.

Ryan Radford had McConnell played perfectly in leftfield, as the Tuscola batter lined out. Radford ran up on the ball as he made the catch, keeping Grasty tied to third.

The disputed call came after sophomore Steven Reinhold struck out but took off for first after Rams� catcher Justin Perdue dropped the ball. Perdue�s throw to first glanced off Reinhold�s helmet, allowing Grasty to score the apparent go-ahead run.

But umpire Tom Stone called Reinhold out for interference as Reinhold leaned in near the base. Coach Billy Shepherd argued the call to no avail, setting the stage for Price�s late heroics.

"It was tough to lose that way," said Reinhold. "It was a tough call; it could have went either way. I think I was right on (the line) but I was in my stride to touch the bag, so I don�t see how I could have been that far inside the line."

Grasty, whose joy soon turned to frustration over the call, had teary eyes after the game.

"It makes me mad," said the Tuscola senior. "They should at least let us win it, let the players play and let us decide the game."

Caleb McConnell threw six solid innings and finished his senior season with an ERA around 1.50, walking only one in the game while striking out four on a 70-pitch effort.

"We didn�t get key hits when we had some opportunities. They had some opportunities," said Roberson coach Tom Smith. "Credit the pitching and the defense. Caleb McConnell pitched a great game."

Starter Ryan Stewart got out of a jam in the second inning. With runners on second and third, Blake Murphy attempted the squeeze play but was called out for being out of the box on the foul bunt. Stewart then struck out Grasty to end the threat.

After he struggled in the third, Smith brought in southpaw Reid Price, who struck out seven, utilizing inside heat over four innings for the win.

"They are a really good-hitting team," said Reid Price. "That last inning, I made three bad pitches, and they hit all of them on the nose. I guess that�s what playoffs is all about.

"We play defense like we did today and get some pitching, and we�ll be all right," he said. "We�ve just got to get some hitting."

McConnell also pitched his way out of a jam after back-to-back doubles from Bobby Hubbard and Medlock in the fifth, with Hubbard having to hold at second until Medlock�s fly to center dropped. McConnell then retired the next three on ground balls, the first with brother Eryk McConnell gunning down Hubbard at the plate.

Sophomore Eryk McConnell came on for his brother in the seventh and was shouldered with the loss.

"I can�t say anything about the calls, but that was a tough way to lose one," said Shepherd. "I�m real proud of my senior class." The seniors won three games as freshmen and five games as sophomores, then finished at .500 last season. "They�ve laid the groundwork hopefully to establish some tradition."