ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Rowen Simpson and senior Daquan Cox combined on a 5-hitter Tuesday night as South Columbus defeated East Bladen 6-3 in the Waccamaw Conference baseball opener for both teams.
The Eagles, now 1-4, and the Stallions (2-1), are slated to meet again Friday night at South Columbus.
Simpson pitched 6.2 innings and allowed 3 runs – 2 earned – on 5 hits and 5 walks while striking out 7. Cox came on in relief to retire the final batter of the game on a fly-out.
A pair of 2-out Eagle errors sandwiched around junior Walker Sullivan’s double produced a pair of Stallion runs in the 3rd inning. South Columbus bunched 3 hits, 2 walks and an error to score 3 runs in the 4th inning and boost the lead to 5-0. Seniors Jaheim Dixon and Ethan Cullipher and Sullivan cracked hits in the inning.
The Eagles loaded the bases on 2 walks and an error in their half of the 4th but didn’t score.
Seniors Tyler Johnson and Darius Williamson drew 1-out walks in the 5th inning, and senior Jake Futrell ripped a single to center field that scored Johnson. Senior Parker Greene’s fielder’s choice plated Williamson, and senior Kalec Autry raked a single to left that plated Andrew Musclewhite, the courtesy runner for Futrell, and sliced the lead to 5-3.
Singles by Cullipher and Cox and Sullivan’s sacrifice fly produced the final Stallion run in the 6th inning. Sullivan batted 3-for-3 with a double, 2 runs batted in and a run scored. Dixon was 3-for-4 and scored a run. Cullipher batted 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
Greene turned in a 2-for-3 game with an RBI to lead the East hitters. Cole Butler, Autry and Futrell connected for 1 hit each. Futrell and Autry drove in runs, and Johnson, Williamson and Musclewhite scored runs.
Futrell started on the mound and worked 5.1 innings for the Eagles allowing 6 runs – 4 earned – on 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Senior Britt Sasser pitched 1.2 innings of 1-hit, scoreless relief and struck out 3 batters.
South Columbus 002 301 0 — 6-10-3
East Bladen 000 030 0 — 3 -5 -5
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