Union County’s baseball, softball and JV baseball teams were a triple threat Tuesday night.

Teams from Chester and Chesnee traveled to the Timken Sports Complex only to leave in defeat.

Union County’s JV baseball team took to the field first and came out victorious 5-3 vs. Chester. The Cyclones jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning but Union County answered with their own offensive production. The Yellow Jackets never looked back after scoring two runs in the second and third innings to take momentum and a never-ending lead.

The Jackets take to the road for their next game vs. Spartanburg at 6 p.m.

CHS 1 0 1 0 1 0 — 3

UC 0 2 2 0 1 x — 5

Varsity softball

It was a familiar moment for Union County’s softball team as they found themselves in need of late-game heroics again.

The Lady Jackets’ semifinals loss last Thursday stemmed from Boiling Springs offensive production in the final innings. And for a team who won 20 games last season, two straight losses was not an option for the Yellow Jackets.

Yet this time, the Yellow Jackets played the role of the spoiler Tuesday as they rebounded with a late-game resurgence and defeated Chesnee 2-1.

The Jackets fell behind after Chesnee posted a first-inning run and it seemed the 1-0 score would remain. Each team’s defense was sound and Union County’s swings were not getting down for hits.

Pitcher Tiffany Vaughan of UCHS helped her cause in the bottom of the fifth inning and slapped an RBI-single into center field to score Katie Melton for a 1-1 tie.

Knotted at one apiece, Jacket senior Kelsey Harris led off the sixth inning with a bunt for an infield single. Momentum continued etching Union County’s way as Harris took second base on the next pitch. Megan Russell’s sacrifice grounder advanced Harris to third base and with one out, runner on third, tension tightened. Chesnee choked the Jackets’ breath as she fanned the next Lady Jacket and Union County was one out away from extra play.

Abby Allen stepped up to the plate with two outs, runner on third base and delivered when it counted most. Allen’s frozen rope deflected off the third baseman’s glove and down the left-field line scoring Harris from third and giving the Jackets their first lead, 2-1.

“This was not a pretty win but anytime you are down late in a game and come back to win, you will take it,” said Gault.

Vaughan — who finished with 12 strike outs — rode the insurance into the next frame and pitched her sixth-consecutive shutout inning to seal the Jackets’ victory.

Melton was 2 for 2 with a run scored and a stolen base. Harris, Allen, Vaughan and Logan Wade each contributed one hit.

Union County (5-1) returns to action Thursday at Broome, first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CHE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1

UC 0 0 0 0 1 1 x — 2

Varsity baseball

The Jackets continued their winning ways Tuesday behind Josh Simpson’s excellent pitching performance.

Simpson (3-0) pitched a complete game and fanned 10 Cyclone batters en route to the Jackets 9-1 victory vs. Chester at Timken Sports Complex.

A perfect compliment to Simpson’s two-hitter was Union County’s success at the plate as the Jackets pounded out nine runs on nine hits.

Jacket third baseman Taylon Wallace was near perfect at the plate as he went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Catcher Brett Duckett was 2 for 3 and also added a double and two RBIs.

Union County’s Dillon Barber smacked a home run and had two RBIs. Union County also picked up hits from Jake Walton, Adam Lawson and Ricky Rice.

Union County picked up their fourth win of the season and remain undefeated heading into Friday’s double-header vs. Batesburg-Leesville.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at Timken Sports Complex.

CHS 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 1

UC 2 0 0 0 3 4 x - 9