The Piedmont Pride baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure their 19th win of the season, 8-2 at York Comprehensive High School on Saturday night. The Pride got a quality start from Rhian Mann and the bullpen struck out 11 of the 12 batters in relief.
The Pride would draw blood first as Jake Wright would smack his fifth double of the season in the bottom of the first inning and score Bryce Hensor from second. Two batters later, Alex Reed would single to right field, sending Wright home and giving The Pride a 2-0 lead.
Lake Norman would come back to tie things up at 2 apiece in the top of the fifth.
The Pride would answer by loading the bases and taking a 4-2 lead off a Joey DelGatto single in the bottom of the fifth. “DelGatto’s first hit of the season could not of come at a better time” said Coach Tharp after the game.
The Pride would add the insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth off of five walks, scoring on two wild pitches, and adding one run on another Alex Reed RBI single.
The trio of Jaret Peterson, JT Wolke, and Nolan Wilson would come out of the pen for The Pride, allowing no hits, only two walks, and striking out 11 batters. Nolan Wilson struck out the side in the ninth, securing another game of allowing 0 earned runs. Jarret Peterson would pick up the win for the Red and Blue, improving his overall record to 4-1.
Rhian Mann started his 5th game for The Pride this season, allowing two earned runs, while striking out five opposing batters. Mann sits in third place in the SCBL with 34 strikeouts on the year.
The Pride combined to strike out 16 batters tonight, the most this season.
The Red and Blue will head to take on the Mooresville Spinners tomorrow, July 8th in a make up game from Friday, July 6th.
