Mustangs win via run-rule over visiting Eastern

DODSONVILLE — The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs continued to stay atop of the Division I Southern Hills Athletic Conference standings with a big win over the visiting Eastern Warriors by a 10-0 score in six innings.

The win pushes the LCHS record to 11-2 overall with an undefeated SHAC Div. I mark of 8-0, as they have five conference games remaining. The loss by Eastern sends them to a SHAC Div. I record of 5-2, and they are 7-5 overall.

LCHS totaled 10 hits in the win and had one error, while EHS totaled three hits and committed no errors.

“This was a big win,” LCHS head coach James Flowers said. “Eastern was right on our heels in Division I of the SHAC, and this win puts a little separation between us now that they have two losses.

“Goal one is to win the SHAC, so we are heading that way. We are starting to hit the ball from top to bottom. I’ve got some young kids that are really stepping up into some big roles.”

Neither team scored a run in the first two innings, but Lynchburg-Clay got on the board in the bottom of the third for a 3-0 lead as they finally got to one of the four pitchers that went to the mound for the Warriors.

The bottom of the third for the Mustangs started with Cody Bell (1-for-3, one run, one RBI) taking first base after being hit by a pitch on the seventh pitch off the at-bat. Next was a was a four-pitch walk forced by Josiah Burns. The bases were loaded on a bunt single by Elam Faust, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.

Then after two consecutive strikeouts by the third pitcher used by the Warriors, the Mustangs got on the board with a two-out triple hit to left field by Quin Wells — who now has 23 RBI — for the 3-0 lead, scoring Bell, Burns and Faust. Wells’ totals included a 2-for-4 game at the plate with one run and four RBI.

“Quin Wells is absolutely hitting in the five hole,” Flowers said. “For a freshman to do that, with a team with a lot of seniors, that’s asking a lot. He’ll be at (or near) the top of the RBI standings in the league after this game, so he’s filled that role better than I expected.”

Lynchburg-Clay’s three-run lead went to four runs when Trevor Niehaus (1-for-3, one run, one walk) led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Bell for the second out of the inning. With Burns at the plate, Eastern was called for a balk, scoring Niehaus from third base for the 4-0 advantage.

Later, in the bottom of the fifth, LC’s lead increased to five runs when Tanner Roberts hit a one-out double to right field, scoring Christian Flowers, who initially reached the bases on a lead-off double hit to left field. Roberts finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI. Flowers was 1-for-3 with a run and one RBI for the game.

Then came the bottom of the sixth happened, and Lynchburg-Clay ended the game with a five-run inning. They opened the bottom half of the inning when Burns was hit by a pitch on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.

Next, Faust hit a single to second base, beating the throw to first base, moving Burns to second base.

Cole Wells — who is battling .571 this season with 19 RBI — forced a six-pitch walk, loading the bases. Then the scoring commenced as Flowers grounded out to first base, scoring Burns. From there, Faust scored on a pass ball for an 8-0 lead.

Next was a double by Roberts, scoring Quin Wells for the nine-run advantage.

Following a walk by Niehaus, Braedon West also forced a walk to load the bases. That’s where the game came to a close, as Bell singled to centerfield for the 10-run win as pinch runner Ryan Creditt scored the game-ending run.

The game also saw LCHS players hit by a pitch three times, as Flowers, Burns and Bell all had a HBP. Bell had the lone stolen base for the Mustangs.

Cole Wells was the winning pitcher, pitching a complete game. Wells went six innings on the mound, where he allowed no runs on three hits and a walk with 16 strikeouts. Wells finished with 102 pitches, 79 for strikes.

“Cole on the mound was lights out,” Flowers said. “He had 16 strikeouts, and he hadn’t probably thrown in two weeks with rainouts and we wanted to save him for league games. Yesterday, we decided we aren’t saving anybody, and we are just throwing.”

Coach Flowers continued to speak about the win against Eastern.

“We’ve had some ups and downs, but pitching wise we’ve been solid out of the gate,” Flowers said. “Tonight, Eastern tried to speed it up, then slow it down when it came to their pitching, but that seems like what everybody tried to do this year. Luckily, we’ve been preparing for it, so it paid off.”

BOX SCORE
EHS    000 000 x — 0 3 0
LCHS    003 115 x — 10 10 1

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