DUBLIN – Lefthander Ian Sykes pitched a one-hitter as West Bladen edged South Columbus 2-1 in the nightcap of their Dixie Pre-Majors Baseball double-header Friday night after the Stallions won the opener 7-2.
Sykes retired 9 of the first 10 batters that he faced before a walk, a sacrifice bunt and the lone South Columbus hit produced a Stallion run in the fourth. The tall southpaw struck out one and walked three.
The Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Weston Pidgeon raked a single down the leftfield line, and Logan West drew a walk. Jarrett Williams yanked a single down the rightfield line that drove in Pidgeon.
While Williams was caught in a run-down between first and second base on the same play, Logan West broke for the plate and slid in safely ahead of the throw.
The Stallions threatened via a one-out walk and an error in the fifth inning, but thirdbaseman Scott Bowen ran down the potential tying runner between second and third base with a diving tag to end the game.
Williams batted 2-2 with a run batted in to lead the Knight hitters. Pidgeon singled and scored a run, and Logan West scored a run.
South Columbus scored three unearned runs in the first inning of the opener. Williams struck out two, but a 2-out error prolonged the inning and a bases-loaded double cleaned the sacks.
Pidgeon started the West Bladen first with a single to left. Logan West drew a walk, and Trent West drilled a single to right field to load the bases with one out. Bowen ripped a single to left-centerfield that scored Pidgeon and Logan West.
Jonathan Robinson pounded a double to deep rightfield, but the Stallions recovered to throw out a pinch-runner at the plate.
An infield hit, a bloop and an error led to a pair of Stallion runs in the second, and the visitors tacked on single runs in the third and fifth innings.
Pidgeon batted 2-3 with a run scored to lead the Knight hitters in the first game. Bowen cracked the 2-run single, and Robinson pounded the double. Trent West and Hunter Pait connected for one hit each, and Logan West scored a run.
Williams started on the mound and worked into the fifth inning for the Knights. The tall lefthander struck out 4 and allowed only one earned run. Caleb Sholar relieved in the fifth and finished up on the hill for West Bladen.
The Knights are now 3-3 on the season and will play a non-league game at Fayetteville Academy at 9 a.m. Saturday.
About Author
