Unbeaten Eastern Wayne hammers Hunt in ECC

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 22, 2009 2:00 AM

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WILSON -- Desperate to find the "off" switch to Eastern Wayne's offensive onslaught, Wilson Hunt paraded arm after arm to the mound Saturday afternoon.

Nothing worked.

The visiting Warriors pushed across seven third-inning runs and added eight seven-inning runs in a 16-6 rout of their Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opponent.

Hunt collected four sixth-inning runs to pull within 8-6 before Eastern Wayne sent 13 men to the plate in the decisive seventh inning. Zach Beachem's RBI single started the game-clinching rally.

Jose Ponce later scored on an error and John Wooten tacked on a two-run double. Jon Worrell contributed an RBI single and Justin Butts trotted home on a bases-loaded walk.

Josh Frederick capped the scoring with a two-RBI single.

"We answered," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "From top to bottom, the boys really hit the ball."

Eastern Wayne erased a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Colton Fulghum delivered an RBI single and Wooten followed with a two-run homer to right center field. Beachem added a two-RBI double to push the visiting Warriors ahead 5-2.

Hunt conceded a run on Hunter Newsome's groundout and Walker Gourley concluded the scoring with an RBI single.

Catcher Cambric Moye extended Eastern Wayne's advantage to 8-2 with a solo, fourth-inning home run.

The host Warriors whittled the deficit to 8-6 in the sixth inning. Cory Nygard supplied a two-run double and scampered home on an error. Cody Britt touched the plate on a fielder's choice.

But Eastern Wayne (7-0 overall, 2-0 ECC) iced the game with its seventh-inning eruption. The Warriors cranked out 16 hits off six Hunt pitchers.

Beachem batted 2-for-5 with three RBI. Wooten contributed two hits and four RBI. Frederick went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Moye, Robert Faucette and Ponce recorded two hits apiece.

"We've been down now the last three games and come back," said coach Fulghum. "We just need to keep plugging from top to bottom. We're taking one game at a time. I'm proud of the kids."

Beachem emerged the winning pitcher, yielding two runs on four hits. He logged three strikeouts and one walk in a four-inning stint. Wooten delivered one-plus inning of scoreless relief.

"Zach threw the ball well," said Fulghum. "I told him I wanted four good innings and I thought he gave us four good innings. It was good to see him have a good outing today."