Rose deals E. Wayne extra-inning defeat
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 17, 2010 1:47 PM
Clutch and composed at the plate in late-game situations a year ago, Eastern Wayne is anything but that right now.
J.H. Rose scored twice in the top of the eighth inning and held on for a 4-2, non-conference victory Tuesday afternoon in New Hope.
Charlie Herring's RBI single scored Warren Harvey and Austin Chiang trotted home on a Warriors' error on the same play to give the Rampants a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth.
Colton Fulghum drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the eighth. However, Rose reliever Bryan Quintard retired the next three batters to end the ballgame and collect the save.
Eastern Wayne (1-4 overall) left runners on the corners in the seventh inning, and stranded runners on first and second in the fifth inning. The Warriors recorded just three hits and also struck out eight times.
"I said at the beginning of the year there were going to be a lot of close ballgames," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "We haven't found a way to win in a close game yet except once. At the plate late in the game we haven't gotten it done.
"Offensively, we've got to want to go to the plate and drive the winning run in and get something done. We didn't get a whole lot out of the middle of the order today."
Eastern Wayne took a 1-0 lead when Colton Fulghum scored on an error in the bottom of the first. Zach Beachem's solo home run to left-center field briefly gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead in the home half of the sixth inning.
The Rampants tied the game at 2-2 on Tommy Houmand's RBI infield single in the top of the sixth inning.
Houmand and Warriors' starter Josh Frederick waged a pitcher's duel all afternoon. Houmand allowed two runs (one earned) over seven innings on two hits, while striking out eight and walking one to earn the win. He took a no-hitter into the fifth until Beachem drilled a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left field.
Frederick allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. The senior left-hander settled for a no-decision while working out of trouble inning after inning. Rose reached base in six of the eight innings and left 13 runners on base.
"Josh and (Zack) Mozingo threw the ball well," said Fulghum. "I'm proud of our pitching and proud of our effort and I'm proud of the way we came out and played hard. When the tough gets going you've got to want to be there. We've got to learn how to develop some guts when it gets tough."
Eastern Wayne visits Rose on Friday.