Aycock baseball drops another 8-inning affair

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on April 2, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

aetzler@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- It doesn't seem plausible that a team could give up 16 runs in 10 games and have three losses.

But that's exactly the situation Charles B. Aycock head baseball coach Charles Davis and his team faces after a 3-2, eight-inning loss to South Central on Wednesday evening.

The Golden Falcons lost an eight-inning game for the second time in 24 hours and have scored just three total runs in their last three contests.

"This is the ECC 3-A/4-A for you," Davis said. "Every game is a battle, and South Central is a good ball club, hat's off to them they executed and we didn't. We're going to win some of these games though. Hopefully (the wins) come late in the season.

"This will be good for us."

Davis shuffled the lineup against South Central. Aside from an improved performance from Ashton McGee at the plate, the Golden Falcons still struggled to manufacture runs. They batted 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

McGee had two hits, drove in a run and nearly took a ball out of the park in the bottom of the eighth, but it was caught on the warning track.

"We just (bumped him up) because we wanted to take the pressure of off him," Davis said. "I was very pleased with what I saw from him tonight, and hopefully he will keep that up."

The Golden Falcons (7-3 overall) scored a run in the top of the first when Bobby Hampton scored on a single by Hank Smitherman. But after that, South Central pitcher Quentin Patterson buckled down and held Aycock without a hit until the fifth inning.

In the fifth, the Golden Falcons finally executed with a runner on base. Kyle Davis, who failed to get down a bunt attempt earlier in the game, fouled off two bunt attempts and eventually worked Patterson to a full count.

Davis got the sign to bunt even with two strikes and finally got it down the first-base line to move the runner over. Two batters later, McGee drove in the run to tie the game at 2-2.

"That's something I have done for 25 years," coach Davis said. "If they foul a bunt off twice, they're getting the bunt sign. Chances are if you foul it off twice you'll get it a third time, I have always believed that. That's nothing new."

In the top of the eighth, Reese Farmer hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. It was Farmer's fourth quality at-bat of the game. He had two hits, two RBI, laid down a sacrifice bunt and had the sac fly.

Drew Piscorik and Jackson Baker each had two hits for the Falcons as well.

"It's simple," Davis said. "They manufactured runs and took advantage of opportunities and we didn't. Same story as last night."

Jacob Naughton performed valiantly on the mound, pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up two runs -- one earned -- on nine hits and striking out four. Jacob Sanford appeared in relief for 2 1/3 innings, giving up one hit and one earned run.

The pitching staff has carried Aycock through the early part of the season and has a team ERA of 2.00. They've helped the Golden Falcons stay afloat despite their offensive struggles.

"The pitching has been great," Davis said. "I can't ask for anything more than what the pitching has been giving us."