Southern Wayne catcher Graham James warms up starting pitcher Zack Aman before their non-conference contest against North Lenoir on Tuesday afternoon. James had two hits in the Saints’ 8-6 loss. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne right-hander Zack Aman hurls a pitch toward the plate during early-inning action against North Lenoir on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Lenoir’s Ethan Smith slides safely into second base as Southern Wayne’s Omar Soler Sanchez fields the throw Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Braxton Toler eyes a pitch coming toward the plate during first-inning action against North Lenoir on Tuesday afternoon. Toler finished the day with one hit. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Lenoir’s Andrew Boyette is safe at first base as an infield throw draws Southern Wayne’s Braxton Toler off the bag Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Southern Wayne remained unbeaten on the baseball diamond with a come-from-behind, 8-6 conquest of perennial 2A power North Lenoir on a cool, breezy Tuesday evening.
Cuyler Daly’s two-out, two-RBI base knock sparked a three-run, sixth-inning uprising that helped the Saints climb to 4-0.
“Cuyler gave us a little cushion,” SW head coach Trae McKee said. “We battled, we fought hard and found a way to come out on top. Offensively, we took advantage of some of North Lenoir’s mistakes and kept innings alive.”
Daly concluded the night 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Catcher Alex Ferrell batted 3-for-3 with an RBI. Hayden Waller contributed two hits. Drew Sweet (RBI), Tyler Odom (RBI) and E’lla Boykin (RBI) supplied one hit apiece.
Sweet filed eight strikeouts and gave up five runs (one earned) on 10 hits in six innings. Waller notched the save with one inning of one-hit, one-strikeout relief.
“Drew had another quality start and we needed to be better for him defensively,” said McKee, whose team committed six errors. “Hayden came in, got the save and did a good job.”
The Saints travel to Goldsboro on Thursday. Game time is 5 p.m.
JV Saints fall
Catcher Graham James and Kaeden Hinson recorded two hits apiece during the Saints’ 8-6 loss to the unbeaten Hawks.
Down 3-1 through 2 1/2 innings, the Saints took the lead in the bottom half of the third inning.
Braxton Toler connected on a lead-off single and scored on James’ RBI double. James trotted home on Hinson’s RBI triple. Hinson touched the plate on Cameron New’s fielder’s choice.
North Lenoir responded with a four runs in the fourth.
Toler, starting pitcher Zack Aman, Noah Hardison and Caden Mozingo each delivered one hit.
The Saints (1-2) open Quad County 3A play at East Wake on March 14. Game time is 4 p.m.
