Hollowell throws strong 7th

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on April 29, 2009 1:46 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- The final three outs were nothing special for Adron Hollowell.

The Charles B. Aycock hurler entered the game with the tying run on base, no outs on the board and easily retired his former team -- Eastern Wayne -- in a 7-6 victory Tuesday evening.

Hollowell induced a pop-up on Robert Faucette's sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out. He retired Jose Ponce and Josh Frederick to slam the door on the Warriors and ruin their perfect season in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play.

"That was just three outs," said Hollowell, who transferred during the offseason. "It felt like it was just another game. I feel like I do better when I come in the game instead of start. I was just thinking about pitching.

"I was just thinking about keeping the ball down. Every save feels good but I don't feel like it's any different."

Down 6-5 in the sixth inning, Aycock rallied.

Warrior reliever John Wooten plunked Will Edgerton, who advanced to second on Tyler Ruffin's bunt. Connor Narron drew an intentional walk and Edgerton scored the tying run when Jonathan Taylor reached on an error.

Hollowell walked and Wooten released a wild pitch to catcher Nicholas McGee. Narron raced home to put the Golden Falcons up 7-6.

"It was a total team effort. We never quit," said Golden Falcons head coach Charles Davis. "It all started with Will getting on base and then using his speed. Tyler laid a beautiful bunt down and there's no substitute for speed. We kept battling and kept battling and we found a way to win."

Wooten allowed two earned runs on two hits, walked three and posted two strikeouts in 12/3 innings of work. The right-hander replaced Frederick, who threw five-plus innings.

The Warriors (14-3 overall, 8-1 ECC) committed three errors and stranded four base runners in the final two innings, including leaving the diamond loaded in the sixth.

"Defensively, we didn't play well," said Warriors head coach Jabo Fulghum. "We had a wild pitch. We did a lot of little things tonight that we hadn't been doing. They capitalized on our mistakes and we've just got to keep our head up. Maybe it will wake us up and make us be more hungry."

Jimmy Kearney tossed one-third of an inning to claim the mound win for the Golden Falcons, who faced the hear of the Warriors' lineup. Hollowell cleaned up for the save and helped Aycock (16-5, 6-3) avoid getting swept in the regular-season series.

"Jimmy Kearney came in and manhandled the heart of that order right there," said. "That's a tough situation but he kept us right there."

Wooten's first-inning, two-RBI homer and a third-inning Aycock error allowed Eastern Wayne to seize a 3-0 lead. Narron's two-run homer kept the Golden Falcons within striking distance.

Eastern Wayne entertains Wilmington New Hanover today, while Aycock concludes regular-season play at home Thursday against Southern Wayne.