With the bases loaded in the top of the 13th inning, Andrew Judkins came through in the clutch once again for the Piedmont Kingsmen Baseball team as they defeated the Stateville Owls, 5-4 in 13 innings Thursday night at West Iredell High School. The 13 inning marathon was longer than any game the Pride have played in since the summer of 2017.
In the top of the 13th, The Red and Blue would lead off the inning loading the bases off of two walks and a base hit single. Andrew Judkins would come to the plate with one out, and loop a single into left field scoring Joe Sibeto from third base. The lone run in the top half of the inning proved to be just enough as Ethan Martinez came in for his first save of the season.
Pitching proved to be pivotal in the win for the Pride. Colby Stuart pitched himself out of jams in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh innings. The pitching staff all together combined for 14 strikeouts.
John Bakke got his first start of the season, allowing just two hits in 4.0 innings of work, and sending down four Owls batters back to the bench via strikeout.
The Pride struck first in the top of the first, plating one run on a Bam Thomas RBI sacrifice fly. The Owls would tie the game at one all in the bottom half of the second.
The Owls would take the lead in the home half of the fifth inning, scoring two runs and taking a 3-1 lead.
The Red and Blue answered the Owls in the top of the 7th, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Tyler Estriedge roped his second double of the game to drive in the go-ahead run.
The Owls tied the game back up in the bottom of the eightth, scoring on an apparent runners interference that was missed bu the field umpire.
The teams remained deadlocked, each testing each other before the respective pitcher would get out of the jam. Andrew Judkins collected his fourth RBI of the young season, slapping the game winning RBI single to left field.
The Pride move to 2-0 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow night, at York Comprehensive High School taking on one of the new teams to the SCBL, the Charlotte Crushers. First pitch is scheduled for 7 P.M.
