LAKE WACCAMAW – Sophomore Brady Durden and 3 relievers combined to pitch a 3-hitter and strike out 9 batters as West Bladen defeated East Columbus 7-2 Wednesday night in non-conference baseball action.
Durden pitched the 1st 4 innings and allowed no hits and no walks while striking out four. Senior Garrison Carr worked 2.1 innings of relief and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out four.
Senior Bryce Fuller relieved with 1 out in the 7th and walked the only 2 batters he faced. Sophomore Garrett Dunham came on to retire Landon Coyle on a sacrifice fly then struck out the next batter to end the game.
The Knights struck for 2 runs in the 1st inning. Sophomore Hezekiah Adams reached base on catcher’s interference and circled the bases on a passed ball and 2 wild pitches. Dunham walked, advanced on a wild pitch and raced home when sophomore Cade Allen hammered a double to left field.
Fuller and Dunham drew walks to begin the West 3rd inning, and senior Hunter Smith swatted a single to right that loaded the bases. Allen drove in Fuller with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 3-0 Knight lead.
Senior Hunter Elks lined a single to left to start the Knight 4th inning. After Durden’s sacrifice bunt, walks to junior Andre Moore, Fuller, Dunham, Smith and Allen produced 3 runs with Elks, Moore and Dunham scoring runs and Dunham, Smith and Allen picking up RBIs as the lead grew to 6-0.
Elks ripped a lead-off double to left in the West 5th inning. Elks advanced on Durden’s fielder’s choice and dashed home on a passed ball to push the lead to 7-0.
Two walks, senior Aaron Mitchell’s single and Carter Watts’ sacrifice fly produced a Gator run in the 6th inning. Mitchell, senior James Little and sophomore Nick Rye collected 1 hit each for the Gators.
Allen batted a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and 3 runs batted in to lead the Knight hitters. Elks finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and 2 runs scored. Smith and Adams added 1 hit each. Fuller walked 3 times and scored twice. Dunham walked 3 times, had an RBI and a run scored. Smith had 1 RBI, and Adams and Moore scored runs.
Mitchell, junior Linwood Stewart, Little and sophomore Kyle Henderson saw duty on the mound for the Gators. Mitchell and Stewart gave up 3 runs each with Mitchell being charged with the loss. Little struck out 4 in his 2 innings on the hill.
Coach Wade Pait’s Knights improved to 3-1 and will travel to West Columbus Friday night.
West Bladen 201 310 0 — 7-6-1
East Columbus 000 001 1 — 2-3-2
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