Mozingo sparks Warriors

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on March 24, 2010 1:46 PM

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Zack Mozingo turned in his best pitching performance of the season as Eastern Wayne held off South Johnston 1-0 in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference baseball opener for both squads on Tuesday.

Mozingo scattered three hits over seven innings to earn the win on the pitcher's mound. The right-hander halted an early-season skid that had left the Warriors facing a 1-6 record entering league play.

"Both pitchers were excellent today and Mozingo really came up big for us," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "We have played a lot of close games so far and none of them have seamed to go our way, but today we were able to pull it out."

South Johnston standout Logan Jernigan took a perfect game into the fifth inning before getting into trouble when Zach Beachum led off with a single. Robert Faucette reached on an error and Hunter Newsome followed with a pinch-hit RBI single.

"Newsome is a good hitter and he is trying to win a spot in the outfield, but we only have three spots out there for about five players," said Fulghum. "He got the big hit tonight and that is a product of him hitting well in practice."

Mozingo made the one-run lead stand up.

With one out in the top of the sixth inning, the Trojans mounted a threat. Jesse Holmes singled and was followed by a base hit from Dillon Bass. Mozingo quickly quelled the rally by retiring Jernigan and Eric Radford on just four total pitches.

Coming off an ECC regular-season championship in 2009, the Warriors (2-6 overall) needed to get off to a strong start in league action.

"If it took six non-conference losses to get this first league win I guess I will take it," said Fulghum. "We have to take it one day at a time and do everything we can to win the next nine conference games."

Eastern Wayne entertains Northern Nash today and travels to ECC newcomer Triton on Friday.