WINNSBORO – Stranded base-runners proved to be the deciding factor in Richard Winn’s home matchup with the Providence Athletic Club Panthers. The Eagles stranded seven on base, and despite a solid starting pitching performance from Hudson Wade, dropped the game 3-2.
“He pitched well again. This is the second game in a row he’s pitched really well for us,” Eagles’ head coach Paul Brigman said on Hudson’s outing. “It’s been great having him step up his game and be one of our top guys.”
Cameron Bass takes a hack at incoming pitch. | DeAnna Robinson
Wade and PAC’s starting pitcher Dan Beam both retired the side in the first inning without any problems, but, in the second, PAC drew first blood. Panthers’ first baseman David Hucks opened the second inning with a hard-hit single and that began a string of three consecutive hits.
Connor Shealy smacked another single, then Beam drove in Hucks with another base-hitRichard Winn missed a pivotal opportunity to knot the game back or take the lead in the bottom half of the second.
The Eagles forced Beam into a bases loaded jam, but he struck Noah Edwards out and ended the inning unscathed. They also stranded two-base runners in the bottom half of the third inning.
“We didn’t capitalize,” Brigman said. “We put ourselves in good positions at times, we just couldn’t get the big hit at the right time. It’s frustrating, but our guys battled and fought hard at the plate, so if the breaks don’t fall for you, you can’t really be too upset about it.”
PAC pushed the lead up to two runs in third inning, after Micah West drove a flyball just deep enough for Avery Blevins to tag from third and score. That two lead run quickly vanished after the Eagles came to bat in the bottom of the fourth.
Jimmy McKeown led off the fourth with a single. Then Ethan McManus picked up one of his three hits on the game with a deep double that allowed McKeown to round the bases and score.
A couple of batters later, Noah Edwards grounded into a fielder’s choice, but McManus was able to get across home plate and tie the game up. The lead was short-lived. In top of the fifth, a wild Richard Winn pitch gave PAC the run that ended up winning the game.
The Eagles threatened to tie in the bottom sixth when McManus made it to third base, but Beam recorded two consecutive outs to stall the comeback attempt. PAC reliever Micah West came in for the final two innings and shut the door on the Eagles.
RWA:0-0-0-2-0-0-0 – 2
PAC:0-1-1-0-1-0-0 – 3
PITCHING: PAC – Dan Beam (W), 5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 4K. Micah West – 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 2K. RWA – Hudson Wade (L), 6IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, 2K, 2BB. Ethan McManus 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER.
HITTING: 1B- Peyton Gilbert, Zack Taylor, Ethan McManus (2), Austin Lancaster, Jimmy McKeown. (RWA); Avery Blevins (2), David Hucks, Connor Shealy (2), Dan Beam.(PAC). 2B – McManus (RWA). Hucks (PAC).