Warriors find offense against Rampants

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on April 12, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

Find your pitch. Grind out contact.

Rinse and repeat.

That blueprint, along with a frenzied fifth inning, propelled Eastern Wayne to a 17-5, mercy-rule decision over Eastern Carolina Conference 3-A/4-A Conference foe J.H. Rose on Monday evening.

The victory moved the Warriors to 2-7 overall, and 1-4 in ECC play.

If anything, it was a contact-hitting symposium.

Trailing 1-0, Eastern Wayne second baseman Elizabeth Sutton drew a walk to begin the bottom of the first inning. The junior, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, took second on a wild pitch by Rampants' starter Cali Hardee.

Two batters later, the Chelsea Wynn show began.

The senior belted a Hardee offering to center field, scoring two runs and creating a 3-1 advantage for the Warriors. The at-bat was part of a sensational afternoon for Wynn, who finished 4-for-4 with five RBI.

It also foreshadowed the affair's remainder, which saw EW tally 16 hits in the scorebook.

The Rampants allowed three more runs in the second inning, courtesy of RBI handiwork by Wynn and starting pitcher Emily Uzzell. Through two innings, the Warriors battered Rose pitching for seven hits, including three RBI doubles.

EW skipper Jackie Lewis was pleased with the offensive outbreak.

"These girls are hitters," Lewis remarked. "They had fun today... worked counts really well and were aggressive."

And dominant everywhere.

Uzzell performed with precision in the circle, allowing just five hits and as many runs en route to earning the complete-game victory. The righty encountered control issues in the latter frames, giving up four runs, but was never in danger of being relieved.

"Uzzie's grown a lot on the mound," Lewis said. "She doesn't break down... keeps her composure."

Following a three-run fourth stanza, Eastern Wayne iced matters in its half of the fifth. The hosts combined one hit -- a two RBI, stand-up triple from Dejah Thompson -- with a litany of oddities to plate a stunning eight runs and induce curtains.

Along with three Rose errors, the Warriors also had runners reach on two infield hits, a walk and a fielders' choice -- par for the course on a wild evening at New Hope.

Weather permitting, the Warriors travel to ECC leader Charles B. Aycock this afternoon. Rose, winless on the season, faces New Bern today in Greenville.