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Polk County faced a stiff test Monday on the road as the Wolverines dropped a 6-0 non-conference decision to Burns, ranked sixth in the state by HighSchoolOT.com.

The Wolverines (4-4) were limited to four hits against a trio of Burns pitchers who combined for 12 strikeouts. Mark Jarrett, Gunnar Alm, Avrey Hensley and Alex Perry each collected a hit for Polk County.

Polk County’s pitching staff held their own against the Bulldogs (9-1) for much of the game, allowing just five hits. Alex Perry started and allowed just one hit and one run in his two innings of work, striking out one. Aaden Denton followed with 3.1 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits while recording two strikeouts.

Burns took an early 1-0 lead, added a run in the fifth and then tallied four times in the sixth to secure the outcome. Western Carolina commit Marshall McGowen led the Bulldogs, finishing 2-for-2 with a double, home run and four RBI while also earning the win on the mound. McGowen smacked a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to ice the triumph.

Polk County will look to bounce back from the road defeat when they return home on Wednesday to host Landrum.