TEACHEY – Sophmore Zach Meares pitched a complete-game 5-hitter and struck out 8 batters to lead East Bladen to an 8-5 non-conference baseball victory over Wallace-Rose Hill Thursday in the first game of a double-header.
Meares walked four batters and none of the five Wallace runs were earned.
An error, a walk and a fielder’s choice produced a Bulldog run in the first inning, but the Eagles who were the home team on the scoreboard answered in the home first. Sophmore Freddy Wooten slammed a double, and junior Gabe Barber and sophmore Brady Hollingsworth belted singles to score Wooten and tie the game 1-1.
Meares and senior Spencer Scott started the Eagle second with singles, and senior Greyson Heustess knocked in Meares with a single. After senior Shy Pone walked, Wooten drove in Scott with a single that put East up 3-1.
Senior Dan Tatum slammed a one-out double in the third inning, advanced on a wild pitch and stole home on the back end of a double steal with Meares who had walked.
The Bulldogs trimmed the margin to 4-2 in the fifth, but East Bladen pushed the lead to 6-2 in the home fifth. Hollingsworth led off with a single, and Meares slugged a double. Scott delivered a single that scored Hollingsworth, and Heustess smacked a single that plated Meares.
Wallace rallied in the sixth with 2 hits, a passed third strike and an error to close the gap to 6-5. Tatum drew a 2-out walk in the Eagle sixth, stole second and dashed home on an error. Meares walked, stole second and scooted home when Scott cracked a single for an 8-5 lead.
Scott batted 3-4 with 2 runs batted in to lead the Eagle hitters. Meares finished with a perfect 2-2 day at the plate that included a double and 3 runs scored. Heustess batted 2-3 with 2 rbi’s. Wooten finished 2-4 at the plate with an rbi. Hollingsworth batted 2-4 with a run scored. Tatum doubled and scored 2 runs. Barber and Pone added one hit each.
The Eagles also won the second game of the double-header 9-1 and will travel to South Robeson Friday for a 6 p.m. game.
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