Third hit batter gives EW victory over Aycock in baseball

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 24, 2010 11:09 PM

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Strange things happen when archrivals meet in one-run ballgames.

Eastern Wayne scored a run on three consecutive hit batsmen in the bottom of the sixth inning, and claimed a 1-0 victory over Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference foe Charles B. Aycock in New Hope.

The victory created a tie between the two teams for first place in the league at 7-1.

"I thought our guys came out and played really good defense, and made some nice plays on senior night," said Eastern Wayne head coach Jabo Fulghum. "Josh Frederick pitched an excellent game for us."

Frederick, who had been bothered by injuries earlier in the season, threw a complete game two-hitter and earned the victory.

C.B. Aycock starter Eric DuBose matched Frederick for five innings, but encountered trouble in the decisive sixth.

Robert Faucette ripped a one-out single and chased DuBose from the contest. Reliever Adron Hollowell entered the game and immediately hit Cambric Moye with a pitch. Zach Beachum drew a similar fate and loaded the bases.

On a one-strike count, Jose Ponce took a Hollowell pitch off the leg and forced in the game's only run.

"Things like that seem to happen in close games," said Fulghum. "Last year we won a game on a hit batter and tonight it went our way again."

The Golden Falcons tried to mount a threat in the top of the seventh when Jordan Quinn reached base on a one-out walk. Frederick hunkered down and retired the game's final two batters.

"All you can do is tip your hat to Frederick because he pitched a heck of a game," said C.B. Aycock head coach Charles Davis said. "I didn't think we made very good adjustments at the plate and we didn't execute when we had chances to move runners over."

C.B. Aycock (18-2 overall) travels to Triton on Tuesday night.

Despite leaping into a tie for first place in the league standings, Fulghum was unwilling to talk about a potential share of the regular-season title.

"We have two big games next week and I think our guys know that nothing is decided yet," said Fulghum. "We have to go to Southern Wayne on Tuesday and roll to North Lenoir on Friday. Those are not going to be easy games."

Eastern Wayne (11-9) played at Greene Central on Saturday night.