Late-inning errors aid Golden Falcons' comeback

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on March 22, 2013 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- A pair of untimely errors opened the door for a comeback and Charles B. Aycock gladly took advantage in a 7-6, non-conference win over Wilson Hunt on Thursday afternoon.

The Golden Falcons swept the season series from the Warriors.

"Whenever you play Wilson Hunt it's going to be a battle," C.B. Aycock head coach Charles Davis said. "We got a few breaks late in the game and pulled out a win."

The Golden Falcons jumped on top in the first inning when Jacob and Tim Naughton delivered back-to-back singles that plated a pair of runs.

Hunt immediately responded with six runs in the top of the second inning. Three consecutive walks were followed by consecutive base hits from Isaiah White, Luis Lantigua, Cody Pittman and Jacob Williamson.

Trailing 6-2, Davis made a pitching change and gave the ball to Ryan Grant, who stopped the bleeding.

"Ryan came in at a pivotal time and he held (Hunt) in check," Davis said. "We were a hit or two away from being in a huge hole and Ryan did a good job getting outs."

C.B. Aycock chipped away with two runs in the third inning and rallied again in the fifth. Hank Smitherman drew a lead-off walk and moved into scoring position when Garrett Joyner also walked. Bobby Hampton delivered a sacrifice and Smitherman scored on a Warrior error.

Noah West tied the game at 6-6 one batter later with an RBI groundout.

The Golden Falcons (8-2 overall) stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the sixth inning, but got another chance in the seventh. Hampton led off with a single and Adam Pate put down a sacrifice bunt. West was intentionally walked to set up the double play and Jacob Naughton hit what could have been an inning-ending double play ball to shortstop.

The ball bounced over the Hunt shortstop's glove and into center field as Hampton raced home with the deciding run.

"That goes to show what kind of player Adam Pate is," Davis said. "You have a kid going to UNC next year and he came to me before his at-bat and volunteered to sacrifice himself to get the runner over. That was a team-first move and it helped us win the ballgame."

Hampton earned the pitching win with one inning of hitless relief.

C.B. Aycock plays host to Greene Central today.