LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots baseball team had been eliminated from the playoffs on walk-off hits the past two years. On Tuesday, the Scots Tyler Faulk laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score the winning run from third to earn the 7-6 walk-off win.

The No. 14 Scots will advance to the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A playoffs for the first time in two season.

Playing with a chip on their shoulder, after letting the Southeastern conference championship slip through their fingers, the Scots batters took their frustration out on Cougars pitchers.

The Scots started the bottom of the seventh down 6-4 after a rally by Wake Forest in the top of the inning. Wake Forest catcher Kyle Wilson hit a double to the right-field wall to score three runs to give the Cougars their first lead of the game 5-4. A hit back up the middle by first baseman Travis Voelker gave Wake Forest a 6-4 lead as the Scots pulled relief pitcher Austin Norton and put in freshman Michael Johnson to finish the inning.

Johnson worked the Scots out of the inning with a fly out and two strikeouts.

The Scots started the bottom of the seventh with a runner on base after senior McKenzie White got hit by a pitch. Senior Donta Green hit a pitch back up the middle to move White to third. Daly Marcano got the first out with an infield hit, but the Scots loaded the bases when Justin Bowers was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Senior Justin Ray hit a chopper to the short stop to bring the Scots within one, 6-5 with one out. A pass ball scored Tripp Wells from third to tie the game at six, which prompted Wake Forest to put designated hitter Josh Copeland on the mound.

The bases remained loaded for the Scots as Norton was hit by a pitch. Faulk then laid down the perfect suicide squeeze bunt to win the game for the Scots.

Until the seventh inning, the Scots had complete control of game behind Marcano on the mound and the Scots bats operating at a high level. The Scots got out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after White and Green were hit by pitches. A bunt by Marcano caused Wake Forest to try for the force out at third but the throw was off and the Scots had bases loaded. A fly out by Justin Bowers scored White from third for the third unanswered run of the game.

Marcano worked out himself out of jam in the top of the fifth inning as Wake Forest had bases loaded with two outs. Back-to-back singles to start the inning had the Cougars sitting in a good position before a bunt by French saw Marcano pick up the force out at third. A fly out by Powell gave Wake Forest its second out of the inning but a single by Grant Smith kept the Cougars alive. Marcano got the final out of the inning with a fly out to Green at short.

The Scots scored another run in the bottom of fifth after a walk to Green and a single to left by Bowers put runners on base. A chopper by Ray went under the glove of Wake Forest’s Powell to score Green from second.

A two-run home run by Wake Forest’s short stop Connor Loeffler in the sixth inning cut the Scots lead to two, 4-2. Following the home run, Hill opted to pull Marcano and put Norton who walked his first batter before striking out the final two to end the threat.

The Scots answered with the walk-off suicide squeeze by Faulk to end the game and advance the Scots to the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.

No. 14 Scotland will play the winner of the No. 1 J.H. Rose/ No. 32 South View game on Friday, May 12 with the higher seeded team hosting.

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

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots center fielder Justin Ray moves out of the way of a pitch during Tuesday’s first-round 4A NCHSAA playoff game against Wake Forest.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_IMG_9529.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots center fielder Justin Ray moves out of the way of a pitch during Tuesday’s first-round 4A NCHSAA playoff game against Wake Forest.

Amber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots first baseman Austin Norton slides into home against Wake Forest during the second inning of Tuesday’s first round NCHSAA playoff game.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_IMG_9557.jpgAmber Hatten | Laurinburg Exchange Fighting Scots first baseman Austin Norton slides into home against Wake Forest during the second inning of Tuesday’s first round NCHSAA playoff game.
Get first-round-playoff win

By Amber Hatten

[email protected]

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