BLADENBORO – Whiteville Central scored 2 runs in the 7th inning to post a 5-3 Waccamaw Middle School Conference baseball victory over Bladenboro in a battle of previously undefeated teams.
With the score tied 3-3, W. Fisher and C. Johnson reached base in the 7th inning and scored the deciding runs. D. Grainger drove in Johnson with the 2nd run of the inning.
Luke Howell reached base to begin the Bulldog half of the seventh, and Hezekiah Blanks reached base on an error to put the tying runs at 2nd and 3rd base with one out. However Whiteville pitcher J. Harrison struck out the next 2 batters to end the game.
Harrison struck out 13 batters and pitched a 4-hitter to pick up the win. Grainger batted 2-4 and scored 2 runs to lead the Hornet hitters. P. Jass tripled and scored a run, and E. Soles added a single.
Brady Durden pitched a complete game 4-hitter and struck out 7 for Bladenboro. Gavin Elks batted 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in to lead the Bulldogs. Blanks and Cade Allen connected for 1 single each. Aiden Russ had an RBI.
Central scored a 2nd inning run on a couple of Bulldog errors. Bladenboro tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Cade Allen’s shot to 2nd base was misplayed and Allen scored the tying run.
Bladenboro took the lead in the 3rd inning. Blanks delivered a 1-out single and scooted around the bases when Elks slammed a double. Russ drove in Elks to push the Bulldog lead to 3-1.
P. Jass walloped a triple in the 5th inning and scored on an error to trim the margin to 3-2. Grainger and Soles cracked singles in the 6th inning, and Grainger scored the tying run.
“Too many should-a, could-a’s,” said Bulldog Coach Tim Benton. “We got too excited and let it get away from us.” The Bulldogs, now 3-1, will play Emereau Bladen Monday at County Park at 4 p.m.
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