Aycock routs Southern Wayne

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 2, 2010 1:50 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- The big inning benefited Charles B. Aycock this time.

Timely power hits and defensive miscues allowed the Golden Falcons to break open a tight game, and defeat county rival Southern Wayne 13-0 in five innings on Friday evening. It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference softball regular-season finale for both teams.

"A big turnaround," said Aycock coach Brad Matthews, whose team dropped a 12-run decision to ECC regular-season champ Triton on Tuesday.

"Defensively, we played really good and played smart with good decisions. We hit the ball harder tonight than I've seen us hit in a long time. Mentally, we came out ready to play."

Leading 3-0 through 31/2 innings, Aycock invoked the mercy rule during its fourth at-bat of the game. Seniors Autumn Pittman and Cara Frederick each slugged a home run, and the Saints committed costly errors during the 10-run outburst.

It was Pittman's fourth round-tripper of the season and Frederick's first long ball. Overall, the Golden Falcons have crushed nine home runs this season.

Ivey Hartzell doubled off the fence after Frederick went yard.

Southern Wayne (5-15 overall, 2-8 ECC) compounded its troubles with four errors in the decisive fourth inning.

"It was the monkey that's been on our back all year," said Southern Wayne head coach Michael Wiggs. "We have three, four or five good innings, and then one inning just sets the tone for the game. We dig a hole and just can't get ourselves out of it.

"I tell the girls when you play these good teams, you can't give away extra opportunities. You might get away with it once or twice, but if you continue to give them extra outs, they're going to come back to bite you."

Pittman (5-2) emerged the victor inside the pitcher's circle. The right-hander worked a complete game and yielded just two hits.

Aycock (13-6, 7-3) returns to action Monday at perennial 3-A power D.H. Conley. First pitch is 6 p.m. The Golden Falcons will celebrate senior night May 7 against Big East member Northern Nash.