LAKE WACCAMAW — Junior Garrett Dunham pitched 6 shutout innings and struck out 12 batters to lead West Bladen to a 5-2 non-conference baseball victory over East Columbus Thursday night. Junior Cade Allen worked the 7th inning on the hill and gave up 2 runs – 1 earned – on a hit and 2 walks.
Coach Wade Pait’s Knights improved to 2-3 on the season and will visit South Columbus Monday night. It was the 1st loss for East Columbus, now 2-1. The Gators will travel to East Bladen Tuesday.
Dunham led off the game with a single to shortstop, stole 2nd base, advanced on freshman Ashton Davis’ fielder’s choice and scored as sophomore Hunter Hester reached 2nd base on an error. Hunter Hester advanced on a passed ball and scored when junior Brady Durden lined a single to right field for a 2-0 lead.
Knight senior Jordan Hester drew a 1-out walk in the 5th inning and sprinted to 3rd base when Allen smoked a single to right. Brady Durden dropped down a sacrifice bunt that scored Hester for a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore Mason Jones swatted a single to right to start the West 6th inning. Jones stole 2nd base, advanced on Dunham’s fly ball and scored when Davis raked a single to the left side to pad the lead to 4-0.
Brady Durden walked and stole 2nd base with 2 out in the Knight 7th inning. Sophomore Josh Dawson knocked in Durden with a single to center field that pushed the lead to 5-0.
An error, 2 walks, Mack Freeman’s single and a fielder’s choice produced the 2 Gator runs in the home 7th.
Dunham batted 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Knight hitters. Davis, Allen, Brady Durden, Dawson, Jones and Jahmar Richardson belted 1 hit each for West. Brady Durden drove in 2 runs, and Davis, Hunter Hester and Dawson drove in 1 run each. Hunter Hester, Jordan Hester, Brady Durden and Jones scored runs.
George Nance, Braylon Waddell, Nick Rye and Freeman connected for 1 hit each for the Gators. Nance and Waddell drove in runs, and Gavin Patrick and Freeman scored runs.
Sophomore Gauge Simmons pitched the 1st 4 innings for the Gators and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6. Sophomore Adrion Jennerette worked 3 innings of relief and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4.
West Bladen 200 011 1 — 5-8-1
East Columbus 000 000 2 — 2-4-3
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