CLINTON – Winning pitcher Blake Smith doubled and scored the deciding run in the sixth inning as Clinton edged West Bladen 3-2 Wednesday night in the Knights’ non-conference season opener.
The Knights had tied the score 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Senior Nolan Bryant hammered a double to center field and senior Dawson Bryan walked. Two outs later, junior Kendall Johnson raked a single to left that drove in Bryant with the tying run.
Senior Colby White and Bryant cracked singles in the top of the seventh that put the potential tying run at third base, but Clinton held on for the win.
A trio of Knight pitchers combined to pitch a 2-hitter, strike out 12 and allow only one earned run. Sophomore Kaiden Stanley struck out 6 and allowed no hits and one walk in his 2.1 innings on the mound. Bryant pitched an inning and gave up 2 runs – 1 earned – on 3 walks and a hit while striking out one.
White finished up with 2.2 innings on the hill giving up an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out five.
Johnson batted 2-for-2 with a double and 2 runs batted in to lead the Knight hitters. Bryant turned in a 2-for-3 night with a double and a run scored. White and freshman Hunter Smith collected one hit each.
Sophomore Alex Brisson walked and sprinted home with the first West Bladen run when Johnson blasted a double to center field in the 4th inning.
Reid Walters doubled home the first Clinton run in the home half of the 4th then scored the go-ahead run on an error and a passed ball. Blake Smith, the 3rd Dark Horse pitcher of the night, struck out 5 batters in his 2.2 innings of work to pick up the win.
West Bladen will travel to Fairmont Friday night for a Three Rivers Conference doubleheader that will begin at 5 p.m.
West Bladen 000 101 0 – 2-6-1
Clinton 000 201 x – 3-2-0
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