ELIZABETHTOWN – Cody Benton’s 2-run single in the seventh inning lifted West Columbus to a 6-5 Three Rivers Conference baseball victory over East Bladen Friday night.
The Eagles carried a 5-4 lead into the seventh, but Dylan Blackwell walked, and Nigel Ceesay lined a single to right. Both Blackwell and Ceesay scored on Cody Benton’s winning hit to right field.
Jerry Locklear Jr. who came on in relief of Viking starter Jagger Haynes in the sixth inning pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to pick up the win.
Ceesay rapped a single to center field to drive in the first West Columbus run in the first inning.
Senior Sincere Smith belted a single to centerfield to begin the Eagle first inning. Smith stole second and third bases and dashed home with the tying run when the throw to third base skipped away from the fielder.
Cole Benton and Haynes drew walks in the Viking fourth inning, and both of them came around to score on two wild pitches and a throwing error to put the visitors up 3-1.
Senior Ty Watkins drew a walk to start the Eagle fourth but was forced at second on junior Shy Pone’s fielder’s choice. Sophmore Gabe Barber ripped a single to left. Junior Spencer Scott’s fielder’s choice plated Pone, and a throwing error scored Josh McKoy, the courtesy runner for Barber, and tied the game 3-3.
Two walks and a run-scoring single by Cody Benton pushed West Columbus ahead 4-3 in the fifth. Smith beat out an infield hit to begin the Eagle fifth inning, stole second and third bases and darted home on a passed ball to tie the game 4-4.
Scott smacked a one-out single in the Eagle sixth inning. Freshman Zach Meares drew a walk, and Smith was hit by a pitch. Scott sprinted home on a passed ball with the go-ahead run that put East ahead 5-4.
Smith batted 3-3 with 2 runs scored to lead the Eagle hitters. Pone, Barber and Scott connected for one hit each and scored one run each.
Senior Xavier Wooten pitched the first 5 innings for the Eagles and allowed 4 runs –none earned – on 3 hits and 8 walks, while striking out eight. Watkins relieved and worked the final 2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out three.
Cody Benton batted a perfect 3-3 with 3 runs batted in to lead the Vikings at the plate. Ceesay batted 2-3 with an rbi.
Haynes struck out 9 in his 5.1 innings on the mound for West Columbus and was charged with all 5 runs and 6 hits. Locklear struck out two batters.
East Bladen will host Fairmont Tuesday night.
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