WINNSBORO – After a 6-1 loss to Northside Christian Academy last week ended Richard Winn’s five-game winning streak, the Eagles were in hot water early in Tuesday’s region game against Wardlaw.
Despite downing the Patriots 12-2 earlier in March, the Eagles found themselves at the wrong end of a 6-1 lead after two innings.
With plenty of play ahead, the Eagles chipped away at the five-run lead a piece at a time.
Dylan Albert drew a walk to lead off the third, and senior Charlie Bonds picked up his third RBI of the night with a two-run shot to center. Two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the frame with the Eagles within three.
Wardlaw held on to their 6-3 lead until the bottom of the fifth.
Albert singled to lead off the inning. Charlie Bonds drew an intentional walk, and Johnathan Bonds was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Turner Burchell singled on a line drive to left to score Albert and Charlie Bonds. Johnathon Bonds and Burchell advanced on the throw, but were left stranded to end the inning.
Trailing by just one, Owen Martin seated Wardlaw’s first two batters. A groundout to second put the Eagles back at the plate.
Patriot fielding and pitching errors helped the Eagles plate three runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Bennett Nicholson and Dylan Albert were both pit by pitches. After a pitching change, a Patriot fielding error loaded the bases for the Eagles. Johnathon Bonds drew a walk to score Nicholson. Albert and Charlie Bonds both scored on passed balls to give the Eagles a 8-6 lead.
Owen Martin earned the win for the Eagles. In 5.2 innings of work, Martin faced 21 batters. He struck out nine, walked one, and allowed three hits and no runs.
The win puts Richard Winn at 6-2 in the early season.
The Eagles fell 6-1 to Northside Christian last week. The Crusaders got on the board in the bottom of the first after a homer to center and a fielder’s choice – each scored one. They added another in the second from a fielder’s choice to take a 3-0 lead.
With three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, Northside put the game out of reach for the Eagles, who managed to capitalize on a handful of pitching errors from the Crusaders.
Charlie Bonds and Martin split time on the mound – each worked for three innings. Bonds allowed four hits and five runs (four earned). He walked four and struck out three. Martin faced 14 batters, allowed one hit and one run. He walked two and struck out four.
Bennett Nicholson led at the plate. The shortstop went 2-4.
The Eagles are back in action tonight at home against Providence Athletic Club, then will travel to West Columbia for a rematch on Monday. Both games will start at 6:30 p.m.
WA – 1-5-0-0-0-0-0 – 6, 6, 1
RWA – 1-0-2-0-2-3-0 – 8, 5, 1
WP: Martin 5.2IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 9K
RW: D Albert 1-1. C Bonds 2-3, 3 RBI, 3B, HR. J Bonds RBI. T Burchell 1-4, 2 RBI. O Martin 1-3, 2B.
RWA – 0-0-0-0-0-0-1 – 1, 6, 2
NCA – 2-1-0-3-0-0-X – 6, 5, 2
WP: L Bohnsack. LP: Charlie Bonds 3IP, 4H, 5R, 4ER, 4BB, 3K
RW: B Nicholson 2-4. D Albert 1-3. C Bonds 1-4. T Burchell 1-2. J Tyndall 1-2.
