West Brunswick 10 Hoggard 2
The Trojans extended their win streak to 16 straight games on Friday night as West Brunswick rolled to a 10-2 victory at home against Hoggard to remain in the division lead.
Hunter Ashburn finished with 3 RBI’s, while Jonathan Carlyle struck out six in six innings of work.
With a 7-1 advantage after two innings of play, Carlyle settled in on the mound as the junior did a good job of pitching with a lead to earn the victory. The Vikings were able to get to within five after scoring in the fourth, but West Brunswick rallied for three more in the bottom of the inning to earn the lopsided result.
Tristan Lewis belted a solo home run to give West Brunswick an early 1-0 lead. Nick Sander responded in the second with an RBI single to bring in Rob Wilkerson. However, the Trojans plated six runs during their next at-bat to build a cushion it would not surrender. Zack Johnson capped the rally with a run-scoring base knock to left.
Hoggard committed four errors in the game and saw its three-game win streak snapped. The Vikings dropped to 4-3 in league play and 12-4 on the spring.
West Brunswick moved to 6-0 for a one game edge atop the conference and improved to 17-1 overall.
Box score
Hoggard 010 100 0 – 2
W. Brunswick 160 300 x – 10
WP: Jonathan Carlyle LP: Logan Smith
Topsail 2 Ashley 0
While the Topsail baseball team has seen its fair share of ups and downs this season, right-handed pitcher Payton Rice has been a steady force on the mound all spring and the senior hurler kept things rolling on Friday with a complete game shutout as the Pirates grabbed a 2-0 road victory against Ashley.
Topsail second baseman Chase Riker went 3-for-3 at the plate with his sixth double of the season. The Barton College commit scored in the seventh off an RBI double by Aaron Beach for a big insurance run after reaching base on a bunt single. Rice recorded six strikeouts, with zero walks in the two-hitter to move to 5-0 on the mound.
Ashley committed its second error of the game and the miscue cost them in the fourth. Sam Hall reached first with one out and the junior shortstop stole second before scoring on an RBI single by Colby Emmertz.
Rice got a little help in the bottom of the fourth after the Screaming Eagles bunted a runner into scoring position with less than two outs, but a line drive off the bat of Reggie Regan turned into an inning ending double play.
Rice breezed through the fifth and let up just one more base runner – a two-out single to Christian Tafoya – before finishing another quality start.
Price King allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits in seven innings, with three strikeouts and one walk for the Screaming Eagles.
The Pirates kept pace with West Brunswick and New Hanover among division leaders, improving to 5-1 in league play and 11-6 overall. Ashley dropped to 1-6 in conference and 6-12 overall.
Box score R H E
Topsail 000 100 1 2 5 0
Ashley 000 000 0 0 1 2
WP: Payton Rice (5-0) 7IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 6K
LP: Price King
New Hanover 6 Laney 1
Trailing by one game for top spot in the conference, the Wildcats held serve in league play with a 6-1 victory against Laney at Buck Hardee Field on Friday night.
Caleb Bishop recorded the win on the mound, while Blake Walston and Alex Sniffen belted a double for New Hanover. Bishop let up one unearned run on four hits, with six strikeouts. Brett Kemp and Adam Pecoraro added two hits each. Walston smacked a two RBI extra base hit and Sniffen had a run batted in.
The Wildcats carried a 2-0 lead into the fourth when Laney pulled to within one. Hall, Ty Hayward, John Speight and Hunter Gainey each had a base hit for the Bucs.
New Hanover improved to 5-2 in the division and 12-4 overall. Laney dropped to 0-7 in conference and 4-14 on the year.
Box score R H E
Laney 000 100 0 1 4 4
NHHS 020 031 X 6 8 4
WP: Caleb Bishop LP: RJ Hall
