West Robeson American rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Elizabethtown 4-3 in a battle of the last two unbeaten teams in the District 9 Major League tournament in Elizabethtown.
Neither team threatened in the first inning as Elizabethtown was retired in order, and West Robeson had one base-runner via a walk.
Raymond Autry smacked a one-out single for Elizabethtown in the top of the second inning but was unable to score.
West Robeson American managed one hit in the bottom of the second, but Elizabethtown pitcher Greyson Clark retired the side to end the inning.
Victor Campbell led off the Elizabethtown third inning with a single, but West Robeson American retired the next three batters to end the top half of the third.
Clark continued his strong pitching by striking out two of the three West Robeson American batters in the bottom of the third to keep the game tied at 0-0.
With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Ethan Johnson reached on an error and Drew Sholar singled to give Elizabethtown two base runners, but West Robeson American turned a double play to end the threat.
West Robeson American used three singles to plate a runner in the bottom of the fourth. Clark retired the side to keep the lead at 1-0.
Elizabethtown captured the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Brady Hollingsworth walked to start the inning and Garrett Melvin came in to pinch-run. Consecutive walks to Autry and Jacob Priest loaded the bases.
After one out, the West Robeson pitcher made a diving stop of an infield liner and threw to the plate for a force out. Chase Starkloff walked and Ethan Johnson knocked in Autry and Makhi Cromartie who was pinch-running for Priest. A ground out ended the inning with the bases loaded, but Elizabethtown led 2-1.
After a lead off double by West Robeson in the home fifth, Zack Meares relieved Clark on the mound for Elizabethtown. West Robeson American scored the runner on a sacrifice, but Meares retired the side with the game tied 2-2 going into the sixth inning.
After one out Hollingsworth singled for Elizabethtown in the top of the sixth. Consecutive walks to Autry and Priest loaded the bases. One out later, Campbell beat out an infield single to score Hollingsworth and put Elizabethtown ahead 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Elizabethtown left the bases loaded in the sixth.
West Robeson American led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and a double by the next batter tied the game. An error and two walks allowed West Robeson American to score the winning run and end the hard fought game.
Campbell cracked two hits and drove in a run to lead the six-hit Elizabethtown attack. Johnson belted a 2-run single, and Hollingsworth ripped a single and scored a run. Autry laced a single and scored a run, and Sholar added a single.
Clark pitched the first four innings for Elizabethtown and allowed 4 hits and 2 runs. Meares worked the last 2 innings on the mound and gave up 3 hits and 2 runs.
Elizabethtown will play Fairmont Tuesday at 6 p.m. in an elimination game.
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