"Good eye."

If Scotland JV baseball coach Mike Sellers had a nickel for every time uttered that phrase that with his team at bat in the seventh inning of Wednesday afternoon's 9-8 win over Lumberton, post-game sodas would have been on him.

Trailing 8-5, the Scots entered the final frame needing to have a big inning against Lumberton's Zack McCartney, who through six had managed to keep Scotland from gaining momentum.

McCartney started the inning showing signs of fatigue, and after issuing three walks and recording a fly-out to left field, he was removed from the game.

What followed could be described as nothing other than a meltdown.

With McCartney out of the game, Lumberton pitching proceeded to give up three runs on two walks and a hit batsman.

The final element of the Pirates' implosion came with the bases loaded and the game tied at 8-8. With Scotland looking to seize the opportunity presented by Lumberton's late game collapse, a squeeze play was in order. Matt Radford left early from third base, Tim Chavis got down a bunt, and just like that the game was over, with Radford crossing home before the pitcher could throw the fielded ball.

"I'm confident in their ability to execute that play, and that confidence carries over to the players," said Sellers of his decision to call for the game winning squeeze.

"I told them in the huddle, '(Tim Chavis) will get the bunt down', and he did."

Scotland starter Will Gover hit several rough patches during his six innings on the hill, surrendering one run in the third, five in the fourth, and two in the sixth.

Sellers said that he was rewarding Gover, who had been suffering from an illness throughout the week, for "battling" by keeping him in the game after the difficult fourth inning.

Gover responded by sitting down four consecutive batters.

Scotland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to Cody Marcure's (2-for-2, walk, three runs, stolen base) wise base running in the first. Marcure and Daniel Walters (1-3, run, stolen base) scored again to begin the third inning after a Buddy Oxendine double.

The flashy Derek Barnes (2-3, triple, run) got Scotland off to an eye-catching start in the fourth by blasting a pitch to the right field wall for a triple. Barnes' speed pressured the Lumberton defense into a throwing error, which led to the play ending with Barnes crossing home plate.

Other offensive leaders for Scotland were Alex Fricke (1-for-3, walk, double, two runs), Jajuan Coleman (2-for-2, walk, three stolen bases) and Tim Chavis (game winning RBI).

The JV Scots will face Fayetteville's Westover at home on Thursday with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.