LUMBERTON — The Fighting Scots have proved time and time again this season they can be counted on to make the unlikely and difficult plays with the game on the line. It’s the routine pop fly, ground balls and remembering to wear an arm band that trip the Scots up and cost them games.

Tuesday’s game against Lumberton was no different, the Scots jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning before the Pirates came storming back in the bottom of the inning scoring three.

Lumberton’s Dylan Bruce hit in the first run with an RBI double before Parks Ledwell reached on an infield single to score one run and another run came on a throwing error to make it 6-5.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Tyler Jacobs hit in the tying run with an RBI single.

Two innings later, Scots pitcher Justin Bowers found himself in a tough spot in the bottom of the seventh with bases loaded and no outs. That should have been the ball game, but in true Scots fashion Bowers picked up the first out of the inning with a strikeout before catcher Trey Armstrong made a miraculous play at the plate.

Lumberton’s Kevin Ortega hit a infield ground ball just to Bowers left on the mound. Bowers charged the ball and threw it quickly to Armstrong at home as the Pirates’ Kris Allen was barrelling towards home. Armstrong kept one foot on the plate and used the other to propel himself into the air to catch the throw from Bowers to get the second out and keep the Scots in the game.

Bruce had a infield hit to the Scots Donta Green who booked it to second to get the force out to end regulation and send the game into extra innings.

At the plate, the Scots first two batters Austin Norton and Justin Ray struck out looking on low and — way — outside pitches from Lumberton’s A.J. Brooks. Bowers hit a single to right, before jogging across the field to get his wristband from third-base coach Michael Sellers. A walk to Green put runners in scoring position but a strikeout by Tyler Faulk ended the threat.

Bowers started the bottom of the eighth inning off strong with a strikeout before Lumberton’s Ledwell hit a single to right — his hit didn’t help the Pirates as he was thrown out at second. A single to right by Brooks and a shot to left by Allen put runners in scoring position for the Pirates. Scots head coach Chad Hill opted to walk the Pirates’ Daniel Carter to load the bases with two outs and the game on the line.

The gamble backfired as Bowers hit Lumberton’s Caleb Wilkerson with a pitch, scoring the runner from third and ending the game.

Bowers takes the loss for the Scots throwing the final three innings allowing two runs off seven hits with four strikeouts, a walk and one error. The Scots put three pitchers on the mound on Tuesday, getting the nod to start the game was Ray who threw three innings allowing three runs of six hits with three strikeouts and three errors. Junior Daly Marcano relieved Ray tossing one frame allowing two runs off two hits and two errors.

With the loss the Scots move to 12-4 overall and 3-4 in SEC play while Lumberton moves to 6-9 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The win puts the Pirates alone in third place behind Purnell and Pinecrest both sitting at 5-2. The Scots are now tied for fourth with Richmond at 3-4 while Hoke sits alone in last place at 1-6.

The Scots and Pirates finish up their two-game series tonight at McCoy Field at 7 p.m.

Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Senior Justin Bowers led the Fighting Scots offense on Tuesday in their 7-6 extra-innings loss to Lumberton. Bowers was 5-for-5 with four hits and two runs. He also pitched the final three innings for the Scots allowing two runs off seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk as he picked up the loss.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_IMG_1101.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Senior Justin Bowers led the Fighting Scots offense on Tuesday in their 7-6 extra-innings loss to Lumberton. Bowers was 5-for-5 with four hits and two runs. He also pitched the final three innings for the Scots allowing two runs off seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk as he picked up the loss.

By Amber Hatten

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