FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Chandler Williford slugged a 2-run, walk-off home run to lift Midway to a 5-4 victory over East Bladen Tuesday in the fifth-place game of the Bulldog Baseball Tournament at Terry Sanford High.
The teams were tied 3-3 until senior Greyson Heustess drew a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh. Sophmore Brady Hollingsworth was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on Spencer Scott’s fielder’s choice. Heustess darted home on a passed ball to edge the Eagles in front 4-3.
Junior Cameron Barefoot started the Raider seventh with an infield hit, and Williford greeted Eagle relief pitcher Zach Meares with a line drive over the leftfield fence to end the game.
The lead see-sawed throughout the game. The Raiders turned two hits and an error into a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Senior Shy Pone reached base on an error to begin the Eagle third inning, and Hollingsworth cracked a single. Scott beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Pone dashed home on a passed ball, and after Meares walked, junior Gabe Barber laced a single to rightfield that scored Davis Alsup, the courtesy runner for Hollingsworth, and edged East Bladen ahead 2-1.
Sophmore Sawyer Sutton clubbed a solo home run over the leftfield fence in the Raider third inning, and two walks and a passed ball vaulted Midway back in front 3-2.
Senior Josh McKoy hammered a triple to rightfield to start the Eagle fourth inning, and Heustess laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored McKoy to tie the game 3-3.
Josh McKoy tripled and scored a run to lead the Eagle hitters. Hollingsworth, Scott and Barber collected one hit each. Heustess and Barber drove in runs. Heustess, Pone, Josh McKoy and Alsup scored runs.
Senior Pierce Melvin pitched the first 5 innings for the Eagles and allowed 3 runs – one earned – on 5 walks and 6 hits while striking out three. Pone pitched an inning and gave up a run on 2 hits. Meares faced the one batter in the seventh.
Sutton pitched the final 4 innings to pick up the win for the Raiders allowing 2 runs – one earned – on a hit and 2 walks while striking out two Junior Cameron Calcutt pitched the first 3 innings and gave up 2 runs – one earned – on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out five.
Williford batted 2-4 with the walk-off home run. Sutton was 2-3 with a home run, and Barefoot batted 2-4 with the run scored.
East Bladen, now 14-5, will resume Three Rivers Conference play at South Robeson Tuesday.
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