ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophmore Freddy Wooten pitched a 4-hit shutout to lead East Bladen to an 8-0 Three Rivers Conference baseball victory over Red Springs.
Wooten struck out three and walked only one as the Eagles avenged a 2-0 loss to the Red Devils in their season opener.
The teams were locked in a scoreless tie until seniors Greyson Heustess and Shy Pone reached base on errors to begin the East Bladen third inning. Wooten forced Pone at second, but sophmore Brady Hollingsworth raked a single to leftfield that scored Heustess.
Senior Dan Tatum advanced Wooten, and Jay McKoy, the courtesy runner for Hollingsworth, with a sacrifice bunt. Sophmore Zach Meares laced a single to right that scored Wooten, and Jay McKoy darted home on an error for a 3-0 Eagle lead.
Junior Gabe Barber reached base on a passed third strike, and Heustess was hit by a pitch to start the East Bladen fourth. Barber stole third and dashed home on Pone’s fielder’s choice. Heustess scooted home on a passed ball for a 5-0 Eagle lead.
Tatum ripped a double to left to begin the Eagle fifth, advanced on a ground-out and dashed home on a passed ball.
Pone reached base on a fielder’s choice in the East Bladen sixth and scored when Wooten blasted a triple to leftfield. Hollingsworth launched a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Wooten.
Tatum batted 2-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the Eagle hitters. Wooten tripled home a run and scored twice. Barber, Meares. Hollingsworth and Pone added one hit each. Heustess scored twice, and Pone, Barber and Jay McKoy scored runs. Hollingsworth drove in 2 runs, and Pone and Meares drove in one run each.
Jaylen Mack went the distance on the mound for Red Springs allowing 7 hits and only 2 earned runs while striking out three.
Coach Russell Priest’s Eagles improved to 8-2 in TRC play and 10-2 overall.
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