BURGAW – Sophmore Pierce Melvin pitched a 4-hitter and struck out seven as East Bladen cruised past Pender 11-3 Friday in Four County Conference jayvee baseball action.
Melvin shutout the Patriots until the fifth inning and received key defensive help in the first inning when shortstop Josh McKoy, secondbaseman Jake Evans and firstbaseman Holden Clark turned an inning-ending double play.
McKoy led off the Eagle second inning with a single, stole second and third base and raced home on Evans’ single.
Sophmore Spencer Scott reached base on an error to begin the East Bladen third, and Melvin smacked a single. After Davis Alsup was hit by a pitch Clark slammed a 2-run double for a 3-0 Eagle lead.
Freshman Gabe Barber drew a lead-off walk in the fourth, and freshman Jordan Robinson and Scott belted singles as Barber scored. McKoy knocked in Robinson and Scott with a single that pushed the lead to 6-0.
Evans and Barber cracked singles to begin the Eagle fifth inning, and Robinson walked. Scott cleaned the bases with a 3-run triple, and Melvin drove him in with a single. Melvin scored the final East Bladen run.
McKoy batted 2-3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored, and Melvin and Evans were also 2-3 with an rbi each. Melvin scored 2 runs and Evans scored one. Barber batted 2-3 and scored 2 runs.
Scott finished 2-4 at the plate with the 3-run triple and 3 runs scored. Clark slugged the 2-run double, and Robinson and Alsup added one hit each. Robinson scored 2 runs and drove one in.
The Eagle jayvees improve to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play. East Bladen will host Heide Trask Tuesday.
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