LAKE WACCAMAW – Two bunts and 2 errors in the bottom of the 10th inning allowed East Columbus’ J. T. Little to score the winning run and lift the Gators to a 9-8 season-opening non-conference baseball victory over West Bladen Monday night.
Little bunted and reached base on an error, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base before scoring when Landen Coyle’s fly ball was misplayed.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
The Knights had looked poised to win the game in the 8th inning. Senior Alex Strange cracked a single, advanced on an error and scored the go-ahead run on junior Hunter Smith’s single. Senior Bryley Williams walked, and senior Brycen Blackmon lined a single to right that plated Smith and Williams for an 8-5 West lead.
The Gators bunched 2 hits, a walk, an error and a wild pitch and tied the game 8-8 with 3 runs in the home half of the 8th. Aaron Mitchell and Carter Watts sandwiched singles around a walk to Jeffrey Robbins. Watts’ single drove in Mitchell, Robbins scored on an error, and Alan Ellis’ squeeze bunt plated Watts with the tying run.
Alex Strange batted 2-for-5 with a run batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the West hitters. His brother, Devon Strange, finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Blackmon was 2-for-6 with 2 RBIs. Williams, Smith, junior Aaron Wren and senior Josh Russ connected for 1 hit each.
Smith, junior Hunter Elks, Wren and Russ had 1 RBI each. Elks scored 2 runs, and Smith, Williams, senior Alex Brisson, and junior Jordan Underwood scored 1 run each.
Junior Stewart batted 3-for-5 with a double, 2 RBIs and a run scored to lead the Gator hitters. Watts was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and J. J. Faulkner finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Mitchell had a hit, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Robbins and Little scored 2 runs each.
Little, the 4th Gator pitcher, worked 2 innings of scoreless 1-hit relief to pick up the win. Russ started and worked 1.2 innings for the Knights allowing 1 run on a hit and 4 walks while striking out 4. Brisson pitched 1.1 innings giving up 2 unearned runs on 2 hits while striking out 2.
Devon Strange pitched 0.2 innings and allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – on a hit and 2 walks while striking out 1. Freshman Brady Durden then pitched 3.1 innings of 2-hit scoreless relief and struck out 3. Williams pitched the next 2.2 innings and gave up 4 runs – 2 earned – on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Williams was charged with the loss.
West Bladen grabbed a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning. Russ walked and Underwood, his courtesy runner, stole 2nd base and darted home when Alex Strange ripped a single to center field. Devon Strange drilled a double to center field that scored Alex Strange.
Stewart belted a single in the Gator 2nd and came around to score on 3 consecutive 2-out walks.
Blackmon slapped a lead-off single to right in the West 3rd inning. Brisson walked and scored on Elks’ fielder’s choice. Russ raked a single to shortstop that plated Elks and pushed the Knight lead to 4-1.
Mitchell and Robbins reached base on errors to start the Gator 3rd inning. Stewart hammered a double to left that scored both runners and sliced the Knight lead to 4-3.
Faulkner singled and scored the tying run for East in the Gator 4th inning. Ayden Graham walked and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.
East took the 5-4 lead into the 7th inning, but Elks reached on a 2-out error, stole 2nd base and raced home with the tying run when Wren laced a single to left.
The Knights will host East Columbus Thursday night at 6:30.
West Bladen 022 000 100 0 – 8-10-7
East Columbus 012 200 030 1 – 9- 8- 7
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