State-ranked Princeton cruises past North Duplin

Published in Sports on March 31, 2006 2:03 PM

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CALYPSO -- State-ranked Princeton jumped on North Duplin with four runs in the first inning and pounded out 10 hits for the game while crusing to a 16-6 Carolina 1-A conference win over the Rebels on Thursday night.

North Duplin had nine hits of its own, but three Rebel pitchers gave up nine walks and two hit batsmen in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule. The Bulldogs added a single run in the second and seven more in the fourth inning to grab a comfortable 12-0 lead.

North Duplin had five hits in the first three innings, but two Princeton double plays stifled Rebel rallies. Finally in the bottom of the fourth, the Rebels worked their way back into the game, banging out four hits and scoring six runs to cut the Princeton lead in half.

"We hit the ball well and they hit the ball well," North Duplin head coach John Avent said. "We played good and we have a chance in the conference. We did not quit and that was the big thing."

Starting Rebel pitcher Robert McCullen could not find his control in the opening inning. After surrendering two hits and walking two, McCullen hit the next batter with a pitch, forcing Avent to bring in Doug Lloyd from shortstop.

Lloyd struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a two-RBI single to Kyle Harmen. Lloyd retired the next two Bulldog hitters on flyouts to end the inning.

Princeton leadoff hitter Patrick Gatewood started the second inning with his second hit of the game and scored on a fielder's choice. Gatewood went 4-for-5 for the game, knocking in four runs and scoring four times himself.

The Bulldogs continued their torrid hitting in their big fourth inning with four hits, highlighted by a Ryan Daughtry double. Princeton starting pitcher Harmen was working on a shutout until the Rebels rallied in the fourth with six runs.

Wade Sasser's two-out, two-run double was the big hit of the inning. Harmen gave way to reliever Chris Hinton to get the final out of the fourth inning for the Bulldogs. Harmen got the last batter on a pop up and then struck out the side in the fifth.

Princeton added four more runs in the fifth against the Rebel's third pitcher of the night Will Lewis. Three more walks helped the Bulldogs cause.

Princeton head coach Bruce Proctor was also pleased with his team's hitting.

"I was glad to see us get all those hits," he said. "North Duplin swung the bat well, also. We showed a lot of character by getting them down, then when they came back, we jumped right back on them."

The Princeton victory pushed the Bulldogs' record to 2-0 in the conference and 7-2 overall. North Duplin fell to 0-2 and 4-6.

Princeton 410 74 -- 16 10 1

North Duplin 000 60 -- 6 9 4

Leading hitters -- Princeton -- Patrick Gatewood 4-5, 2B, 4 runs, 4 RBI; Daniel Gerrell 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Ryan Daughtry 2-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Kyle Harmen 1-3, run, 2 RBI; Jarel McLamb 1-3, 2B, 2 runs. North Duplin -- Billy Mello 2-3, run; Rock Bennett 1-2, run; Wade Sasser 1-3, 3 RBI; Robert McCullen 1-3, run; Doug Lloyd 2-3, run; Ryan Smith 1-2; Ryan Killette 1-2, run, 2 RB.

IP H R ER BB SO

Princeton

K. Harmen (W) 32/3 9 6 4 1 5

C. Hinton 11/3 0 0 0 0 3

North Duplin

R. McCullen (L) 0 2 4 4 3 0

D. Lloyd 4 7 8 4 5 1

W. Lewis 1 1 4 2 3 1