HOPE MILLS – Junior Walker Sullivan batted 3-for-3 with 3 runs batted in Saturday to lead South Columbus to a 10-3 victory over West Bladen on the opening day of the South View High Invitational baseball tournament.
The Knights, now 4-6, will battle tournament host South View (8-5) – a 6-4 loser to Overhills Saturday – Monday at 7 p.m. South Columbus improves to 7-3 and will play Overhills Monday at 4 p.m.
Freshman Ashton Davis smoked a 1-out single through the middle in the Knights’ 1st inning. Senior Jordan Hester ripped a double to right field that scored Davis for a 1-0 West lead.
Daquan Cox walked, and Sullivan hammered a run-scoring triple to right in the South 1st inning. Jaheim Dixon’s sacrifice fly plated Sullivan and edged the Stallions ahead 2-1.
In the Stallion 3rd inning, Cox singled, advanced on an error and raced home on Sullivan’s double to pad the lead to 3-1.
South opened up an 8-1 lead with 5 runs in the 5th inning. A walk, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt and hits by Sullivan, Ethan Cullipher and Tyler Thompson produced the runs.
Junior Allister Russ beat out an infield hit to start the Knight 6th inning. Junior Cade Allen lined a single to right field. An error on the play scored Allister Russ. Sophomore Josh Dawson knocked in Allen with a single to left that trimmed the margin to 8-3.
The Stallions tacked on 2 more runs in the bottom of the inning on 2 hits, a walk and an error.
Dawson batted 2-for-3 with a run batted in to lead the West hitters. Jordan Hester slammed the RBI double, and Allen, Allister Russ, Davis and junior Garrett Dunham connected for 1 hit each. Davis, Allister Russ and Allen scored runs.
Dunham started on the mound for the Knights and pitched 3 innings allowing 3 runs – 2 earned – on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Allister Russ worked an inning of relief and gave up 3 runs on a hit and 3 walks while striking out 1. Davis pitched 0.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk. Aidan Russ worked an inning of relief and allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – on 3 hits and a walk. Hunter Hester retired the only 2 batters that he faced.
Sullivan doubled, tripled and scored 3 runs for South. Cox scored 3 runs and Dixon scored 2. Dixon, Rowen Simpson, Cullipher, Thompson and Bo Kinlaw drove in runs.
Thompson pitched 6 innings to pick up the win and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Sophomore Colton Allen retired all 3 batters that he faced in the 7th and struck out 1.
West Bladen 100 002 0 — 3-7-4
South Columbus 201 052 x — 10-9-2
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