FAYETTEVILLE — Senior Jake Futrell pitched a 3-hit shutout and struck out 12 batters Saturday night to lead East Bladen to a 2-0 victory over Western Harnett in the opening round of the Bulldog Baseball Easter Invitational at Terry Sanford High.
Coach Grant Pait’s Eagles improved to 7-5 and will face Triton (7-5) – a 6-3 winner over Scotland Saturday – at 7 p.m. Monday night in the tournament semifinals. Western Harnett (4-9) will play Scotland at 1 p.m. Monday.
Sophomore Davion Lewis belted a single to center field to start the Eagle 2nd inning. Freshman Jayce Hatcher smacked a single to right that sent Lewis to 3rd base. After Hatcher stole 2nd base, senior Lee Barnes sliced a single to right field that scored both Lewis and Hatcher for a 2-0 East lead.
Futrell retired the 1st 11 batters that he faced before Bryson Pope reached on an infield hit into the shortstop hole with 2 out in the 4th. Lawton Hickman followed with a single to center field, but Futrell struck out the next batter to end the threat.
A walk and Braedon Lyon’s single to center put 2 runners on base with 2 out in the 5th, but Futrell retired the next batter on a pop-up to the infield.
Futrell issued his 2nd walk of the game to begin the Western 7th, but Futrell regrouped after a mound visit from Coach Pait, and struck out the next 3 batters to end the game.
Hatcher batted 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored to lead the East hitters. Barnes delivered the 2-run single, and Lewis singled, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
Western senior Jackson Rosser pitched a 4-hitter, struck out 8 batters, hit 3 batters and walked 1.
East Bladen 020 000 0 — 2-4-0
Western Harnett 000 000 0 — 0-3-0
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