Post 11-Pitt 39
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 13, 2011 3:57 PM
WINTERVILLE -- One error opened the floodgates.
Pitt County Post 39 seized command in the third inning and triumphed 13-7 over Wayne County Post 11 on the Minges-Overton Baseball Complex diamond Sunday afternoon.
Post 39 captured the best-of-three, regular-season series against Post 11 and has won four of the last six meetings overall.
"That's kind of been the MO (modus operandi) for us lately, huh?," said Wayne County coach Rob Watt. "If we are going to have any success this summer, we are going to have to limit those big innings, no doubt. It's been our nemesis lately. We were able to slug it out with Kinston and get a win out of it.
"The last time we played these guys, same thing ... couldn't take care of the ball. We've got to play better infield defense."
Wayne County (7-3 overall, 2-2 South) committed four errors which led to nine unearned runs in the 3-hour, 3-minute affair. The lone third-inning miscue ignited a back-breaking, eight-run outburst by Pitt County, which picked up its third South Division win of the season.
Pitt County sent 12 batters to the plate against Post 11 starter Derek Limbaugh and reliever Zach Beachem, and turned a 4-1 deficit into an 9-4 advantage. Grey Dixon (2-for-4) delivered a two-RBI double down the third-base line, while Ryan Gupton laced a two-RBI single into left center field.
Limbaugh suffered his first defeat in three decisions.
"Derek pitched well enough, got a couple of balls where he would have been out of the inning with minimal damage," said Watt. "Defensively, we just didn't help him out and it continued for the next couple of innings."
Post 39 chased Beachem in the fourth. Duane Gurganus took over and provided four innings of two-hit, three-strikeout relief. Hunter Barnette threw a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.
Wayne County collected nine hits on the afternoon.
However, Post 11 stranded 14 runners and batted an anemic 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Watt's club left the bases juiced in the seventh, and left two men aboard in four different innings.
"You try to limit the big inning and you try to get the big hits, and we didn't do either, for sure," said Watt. "We did a great early on of being patient at the plate, working some walks and getting some guys in scoring position.
"It's going to happen with two outs, but when you leave runners on with one out or no outs, it just can't happen multiple times in a game."
Post 11 tallied its first run without the benefit of a hit. Gupton walked the first three batters he faced and Tyler Gainey lofted a one-out, sacrifice fly to center field to put Wayne County up 1-0.
Pitt County (6-4, 3-1) knotted the contest at 1-1, but fell behind when Wayne County tallied three third-inning runs. McGee stroked a two-RBI triple and Gainey's second sac fly accounted for the scoring.
Gainey finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBI. Zack Mozingo batted 3-for-5. Kevin Wise, catcher Nick McGee (two RBI), Adron Hollowell, Cameron Taylor (RBI) and Louisburg College signee Tyler Farmer added one hit apiece.