Golden Falons tame Bulldawgs

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 23, 2010 1:46 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock passed its final tune-up with flying colors before Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play starts today.

The Golden Falcons pounded out 13 hits in support of starting pitcher Jordan Quinn in an 11-1, non-conference win over Princeton in five innings on Monday afternoon.

Making his first start of the season, Quinn allowed one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk over four innings.

"Jordan got his first start and we were looking for four innings out of him," said Aycock head coach Charles Davis. "He gave us a good four innings."

Connor Narron scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first to give the Golden Falcons a 1-0 lead.

Tyler Farmer's infield single scored Tyler Ruffin in the home half of the second. Jeff Carmel raced home on a Bulldogs' error to increase the lead to 3-0.

"I knew Princeton was much improved from the first time we played them," said Davis. "We wanted to hopefully set the tone early by being aggressive. For the most part we did that. I thought we had some good quality at-bats."

Princeton got on the board with Benton Myers' RBI double to left field in the top of the third inning.

Quinn's solo home run to center field pushed the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Two batters later, Ruffin belted a two-run home run to center field. Carmel's RBI single scored Jonathan Taylor, increasing the advantage to 7-1. Farmer added a run-scoring groundout.

Jeff Davis tacked on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

Quinn's groundout in the bottom of the fifth scored Farmer and Davis' RBI single ended the ballgame.

Ruffin finished 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBI. Farmer (2 RBI), Carmel (RBI), Narron and Davis each collected two hits.

Aycock (8-1) opens ECC play today at North Lenoir.

"We're 0-0 ... conference play is what counts," said Davis. "We feel pretty good about ourselves. We've still got a long ways to go. Our pitchers are doing better and better each outing. With this conference right here you've got to come ready to play.

"Each and every day we've got to just keep working and getting better."

Princeton (1-8) has played a difficult non-conference schedule that included two games each against Aycock, South Johnston, West Johnston and Wilson Fike. The Bulldogs visit Smithfield-Selma on Wednesday before beginning Carolina 1-A Conference play on Friday at home against Spring Creek.

"We need to show up at practice every day with our hard hat and our sleeves rolled up, and get better," said Princeton head coach Bruce Proctor. "We are making strides in the right direction. I don't care about 1-A, 2-A, 3-A or 4-A. It's still 60 feet, six inches and 90-foot bases. I want our energy and our emotions higher.

"I want us to play this game with more passion."