WINNSBORO – Spring Break isn’t for the Eagles. Richard Winn hosted back-to-back region games on Monday and Tuesday this week. They defeated Wardlaw 10-0 in Monday’s game, but took their first region loss of the season in Tuesday’s game against King Academy.
After senior Zack Taylor and the Eagles seated King’s first two batters of the game, the Knights got on the board with three singles in a row, the third scoring the first run of the game. It was three up, three down for the Eagles in the bottom of the frame. They trailed King 1-0 after one inning.
King’s leadoff batter grounded out to start the second inning, but back-to-back singles followed by a walk loaded the bases for King. Ben Sauls grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored a Knight runner and left one on third. King scored a third run on a wild pitch before the Eagles were able to get a third out.
Two Eagle runners reached base on errors in the bottom of the second, but were left stranded to end the third. King headed to the plate in the top of the third with a 3-0 lead.
The Knights’ leadoff batter reached base on an Eagle error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Taylor got his third strikeout of the night before waking two to load the bases for King. He managed another K to keep King scoreless in the top of the third.
Lawson Wade lead off in the third and picked up the Eagles’ first hit of the game with a single to shortstop, but a double play and a strikeout ended the inning quickly with the Eagles still trailing 0-3.
King ignited bats again in the fourth, adding a double, a triple, and two more runs. The Knights held a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but an Austin Lancaster homer put the Eagles on the board.
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff batter Rob Wilson was hit by a pitch, then Jacob Chaisson reached base on error. B Baker singled, scoring Wilson before a strikeout ended the inning.
Richard Winn trailed 2-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Senior John Russell reached first on an error by the Knights third baseman to lead off the inning. Wade singled to left, putting Russell on second. Russell and Wade advanced on a passed ball, but the Eagles quickly found themselves with two outs. Taylor singled on a line drive to center, scoring Russell and Wade, narrowing the lead to 4-5 before a strikeout ended the game.
Taylor took the loss on the mound. He struck out six in five innings of work, allowed seven hits and five runs and walked four. Wilson pitched two innings of relief. He walked one and struck out two.
Dru Caldwell got the win in Monday’s 10-0 defeat of Wardlaw. He pitched five innings, allowing only one hit. He struck out five and walked one. Lancaster homered, and Taylor went 3-4 with a double.
The Eagles will break for a few days before facing Heathwood Hall on Friday in Winnsboro. They return to conference play on Monday at Newberry Academy.
KING – 1-2-0-2-0-0-0 – 5-7-5
RWA – 0-0-0-1-0-1-2 – 4-5-4
WP: T List. LP: Taylor
RWA- Wade 2-3, Baker 1-3, Lancaster 1-4, Taylor 1-4. KING_ Amick 2-2, T List 2-4, C. List 1-4, Gross 1-3, Buzhardt 1-3.
WARDLAW – 0-0-0-0-0-X-X – 0-1-2
RWA – 0-0-2-7-1-X-X – 10-10-0
WP: Caldwell
RWA: Taylor 3-4; Lancaster 2-3, Baker 2-2; Wade 1-3, King 1-1; Wilson 1-3
