ROCKY POINT – Senior Jake Futrell pitched an 8-hitter and struck out 11 batters to lead East Bladen to a 6-1 Waccamaw Conference baseball victory over Heide Trask Tuesday night.
Coach Grant Pait’s Eagles improved to 6-1 in Waccamaw play and 8-7 overall and will host Trask Friday night. Heide Trask drops to 0-5 in league play and 3-8 overall.
Eagle senior Darius Williamson was hit by a pitch to start the game, and Futrell smoked a single to left. Senior Parker Greene raked a single past shortstop that scored Williamson. Sophomore Davion Lewis’ fielder’s choice scored Tyler Johnson, the courtesy runner for Futrell, for a 2-0 East lead.
Singles by Phil Williams and Cooper Uhland plus an error scored a Titan run in the home half of the 1st.
Freshman Jayce Hatcher scorched a single through the left side to start the Eagle 2nd inning. Kalec Autry walked, and Hatcher advanced on Cole Butler’s fielder’s choice. Williamson yanked a single to the left side that scored Hatcher for a 3-1 East lead.
Senior Lee Barnes was hit by a pitch, and Hatcher and Autry drew walks in the Eagle 3rd inning. D. A. Smith was hit by a pitch that forced home Barnes for a 4-1 East lead.
Pinch-hitter Aiden Hargrove ripped a single to left in the Eagle 6th inning, and Futrell reached base on an error. Greene walked, and Lewis lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Hargrove. Barnes and Hatcher drew walks that forced home Futrell and stretched the lead to 6-1.
Williamson, Hargrove, Futrell, Greene, Carson Gooden and Hatcher smacked 1 hit each for the Eagles. Lewis drove in 2 runs, and Williamson, Greene, Hatcher and Smith drove in 1 run each. Johnson, Hatcher, Barnes, Futrell, Hargrove and Williamson scored 1 run each.
Williams, Trey Cheatham, Uhland and Bradford Bannerman connected for 2 hits each for the Titans. Brantley Lunsford started and pitched 5.2 innings for Trask allowing 6 runs – 4 earned – on 6 hits and 5 walks while striking out 3. Uhland worked 1.1 innings of hitless, scoreless relief walking 2 and striking out 1.
East Bladen 211 002 0 – 6-6-1
Heide Trask 100 000 0 –1-8-2
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