BLADENBORO – Luke Howell and Caison Brixey slammed doubles that rallied the Knights into the lead, and Aiden Russ pitched 2.1 strong innings of relief as West Bladen edged East Bladen 8-7 Tuesday in Southeastern Athletic Conference jayvee baseball action.
East Bladen led 7-6 when Howell drilled his double to center field to begin the Knight 3rd inning. Brixey hammered a double to left that plated Luke Pait, the courtesy runner for Howell, with the tying run. Brixey stole 3rd base and raced home with the go-ahead run on a passed ball.
Aiden Russ allowed only an unearned run on 2 hits and 3 walks in his 2.1 innings of relief and struck out one. Tyler Lewis started on the mound for the Knights and gave up 6 runs — 2 earned — on 3 walks and 2 hits while striking out six.
Zach Sholar walked, stole 2nd base and scored on an error for a 1-0 1st inning East lead.
West answered with 3 runs in the home half. Jonah Bryan laced a single to center field, and Aiden Russ walked. Weston Hilburn’s fielder’s choice plated Bryan, and Allister Russ pounded a double to center field that scored Hilburn. After Jackson Smith walked, Ryan Dove reached base on an error that scored Allister Russ and put the Knights on top 3-1.
The Eagles piled up 6 runs in the 2nd inning to retake the lead. Aidan Hargrove walked, and Braylon Cromartie beat out a bunt single. Sholar reached base on a passed 3rd strike that scored Hargrove. Davion Lewis ripped a single to left that scored Cromartie.
Cole Butler reached base on an error that scored Sholar and Lewis. Andrew Musselwhite walked, Butler sprinted home on a passed ball. Colton Daly knocked in Musselwhite with a single to right that pushed the Eagle lead to 7-3.
Brixey and Bryan led off the Knight 2nd inning with singles. Aiden Russ reached on an error that scored Brixey. Hilburn was hit by a pitch, before Allister Russ smashed a double to right that scored Bryan and Aiden Russ to trim the East lead to 7-6.
Allister Russ batted a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and a run scored to lead the Knight hitters. Bryan finished 2-for-2 at the plate with 2 runs scored. Brixey was also 2-for-2 with a double, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. Howell doubled for the Knights. Hilburn and Aiden Russ scored runs.
Cromartie, Lewis, Isaiah Lee and Daly connected for 1 hit each for the Eagles. Sholar scored twice, and Lewis, Butler, Musselwhite, Hargrove, and Cromartie scored 1 run each. Butler had 2 RBIs, and Sholar, Lewis, and Daly had 1 RBI each.
Cromartie started on the hill and pitched 3 innings for East allowing 8 runs — 6 earned — on 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4. Butler pitched 0.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief allowing 1 walk and striking out one.
The Knights improve to 1-2 in the SAC-7 and are 3-4 overall. East Bladen is now 3-2 in the league and 6-2 overall. The two teams will play again Friday on Russell Priest Field at East Bladen.
East Bladen 160 0 — 7-4-2
West Bladen 332 0 — 8-8-3
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