BASEBALL: Gurganious, Bulldogs fend off Cougars

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on March 9, 2017 9:57 AM

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Will Gurganious tossed 5 2/3 innings of emergency relief yesterday and Princeton banged out 12 base hits to topple Goldsboro High School, 20-9, in a non-conference tilt for both teams.

The victory moved the Bulldogs to 3-1 on the season.

PHS set the tone early, taking advantage of a shaky start in the field by Goldsboro to post three runs and assume a commanding lead in its half of the first inning.

It wouldn't last long, however.

Goldsboro responded moments later with a dizzying effort at the plate, scoring five runs on the strength of three RBI from Matthew and Nick Lewis. The outburst, which also included base knocks from sophomore Brody Morton and shortstop Chandler Patrick, was all PHS skipper Justin Willoughby needed to see.

Without flinching, he moved to his bullpen.

"The biggest thing we've been talking about all year long is bringing energy to the field with us... and I don't think we were ready to play today," the first-year skipper said. "Defensively, we didn't do anything right, and they (Goldsboro) hit us in the mouth."

Cue right-hander Gurganious.

The sophomore entered and immediately calmed matters, allowing Princeton to escape the first with no additional damage. He then embarked on a stint of control and poise, giving up no runs, just four hits and striking out five before bowing out in the seventh inning.

His effort was complemented at the plate by a timely bunch of Bulldog batsmen, who were aggressive in the box from the outset.

Princeton piled on four runs in the second frame, three in a quick third inning, then capped matters by scoring 10 runs over the last four innings to produce the final margin of victory.

But make no mistake -- the evening belonged to Gurganious.

"Tonight, Will did more than what he needed to do," Willoughby said of his sophomore's effort. "He's not going to throw the ball by anybody, but he kept the ball in the strike zone -- and defensively, we picked it up."

In total, the effort was enough to vanquish Goldsboro (0-3 overall), which never recovered from its up-and down opening inning.

"Early in the game, we're giving up too many walks," head coach Danny Merritt said. "That's too many outs. We have to stay out of big innings."

PHS was led at the plate by Alex Hickman, who went 2-4 with two RBI. Anthony Jones, Tanner Flowers and Nate Ramby also collected two hits apiece.

Goldsboro got two hits and an RBI from Patrick, while Morton finished the afternoon 2-for-4. Michael Eltz went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and starting pitcher Natorian Nobles finished 2-for-5.

Princeton begins Carolina 1-A action this evening with a home tilt versus James Kenan, while Goldsboro travels to face Jones Senior.