CLINTON – Clinton sent 12 batters to the plate in the 5th inning and scored 8 runs to take an 11-6 lead enroute to an 11-9 non-conference baseball victory over East Bladen Monday night.
East Bladen, now 2-5, will host East Columbus Tuesday night at 6:30. Clinton, now 6-1, will visit Richlands Wednesday.
The Eagles held a 6-3 lead when a hit batter, Jaxson Smith’s single, and senior Nelson Vann’s 2-run double trimmed the margin to 6-5. Vann scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Two walks, another hit batter and an error edged the Dark Horses in front, before senior Alex Evans’ 2-run single, a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice grew the lead to 11-6.
Senior Jake Futrell reached on an error to start the Eagle 6th inning. Senior Parker Greene walked, and sophomore Davion Lewis hammered a double to center field that scored Futrell. Senior Lee Barnes cracked a single to 2nd base that scored Greene and Lewis and trimmed the margin to 11-9.
Futrell batted 3-for-5 with a double, 2 runs batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the East hitters. Seniors Britt Sasser and D. A. Smith both batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs each. Senior Tyler Johnson finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Lewis smashed the RBI double and scored a run. Greene, Barnes and Carson Gooden added 1 hit each. Barnes had 2 RBIs, and Greene, Barnes, senior Na’Toren Corbett, Andrew Musselwhite and senior Darius Williamson scored runs.
Johnson lined a single to right to start the game, and Futrell pounded a double to left that scored Johnson. Barnes was hit by a pitch and Corbett reached base on an error, before Sasser drilled a 2-run single to right that plated Futrell and Barnes for a 3-0 Eagle lead.
Sophomore Brennan Bell tripled to center field and scored on a passed ball in the Clinton 1st inning. Williamson walked and stole 2nd base in the East 2nd inning. Futrell scorched a single to center field that plated Williamson for a 4-1 Eagle lead.
Corbett walked to begin the Eagle 3rd inning, and Sasser smacked a single to right. D. A. Smith beat out a single to shortstop that scored Corbett for a 5-1 East lead.
A hit batter, singles by Will Bass and Camden Davis and Bell’s sacrifice fly narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the 4th inning. Gooden belted a single to right, and his pinch-runner Musslewhite stole 2nd base then scored when D. A. Smith raked a single past shortstop for a 6-3 Eagle lead.
Corbett started and pitched 3 innings for East allowing a run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Gooden worked an inning and allowed 5 runs on 4 hits while striking out 1. Sasser pitched 0.1 innings of relief and allowed 5 runs – 3 earned – on 2 walks and a hit. Barnes worked the final 1.2 scoreless innings, struck out 4 and gave up 2 hits.
Bell started and pitched 5 innings for the Dark Horses allowing 6 runs – 4 earned – on 10 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Connor Tyner worked 0.1 innings of relief and gave up 3 runs – 2 earned – on 2 hits and a walk. Jaxson Smith pitched 1.2 innings of 1-hit scoreless relief to pick up the save.
Bass batted 2-for-3 and scored twice to lead the Dark Horse hitters. Jaxson Smith was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Evans finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored, and Davis batted 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Vann cracked the 2-run double and scored a run.
East Bladen 311 013 0 – 9- 13-1
Clinton 100 280 0 –11-10-2
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