LAURINBURG — The Fighting Scots would like to have Tuesday’s conference game against Hoke County back. A fielding error and a three-run home run proved to be the deciding factors as the Bucks earned a convincing 10-2 win over the Scots.
The Scots took a 2-0 lead on the Bucks in the bottom of the second inning as Hoke pitcher Logan Goins walked in two runs on a walk and plunking a batter.
Hoke scored a run in the fourth inning off a solo home run by senior Ryan Taylor which to cut the Scots lead, but it was the fifth inning that turned the tide of the game. The Bucks tied the game on a bobbled relay throw by the Scots. On his next trip to the plate, Taylor crushed a ball for a three-run home run to give Hoke a 5-2 lead.
Taylor took the mound for the Bucks and pitched a shut out over the next three innings as he allowed zero runs off two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. In total, Goins and Taylor rang up 13 Scots batters and allowing two unearned runs off five hits.
The Scots offense couldn’t get a beat on Taylor and in the seventh inning head coach Chad Hill sent sophomore Jackson Purcell to the mound. The sophomore opened the inning with back-to-back outs before Kobe Locklear zipped a single to left.
Goins reached on an error by short stop Daly Marcano, which allowed Locklear to score. The Scots then opted to intentionally walk Taylor which put runners on first and second. Travis Locklear got hit by a pitch to load the bases before Nick Lucchetti hit a three-run double to center.
Hill pulled Purcell and put in fellow sophomore Matt Sellers to get the final out of the inning, but the damage was already done as Hoke took a 10-2 lead.
The Scots opened the inning with a fly ball error by senior Trey Armstrong, a single down the third baseline by Norton moved Armstrong to third. Hoke got the force out at second on an infield hit by Zac Phillips. Back-to-back strikeouts by Tyler Snipes and Donovan O’Donnell ended the game.
Junior Austin Norton pitched the first four innings, coming on in relief were Purcell, Sellers and senior Grant Burleson.
Norton allowing four runs off six hits with four errors and six strikeouts. The three relievers combined to throw the other innings allowing six runs off four hits with two errors a walk and a strikeout.
The Scots move to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play while Hoke improves to 6-5 overall and 5-0 in SAC-8 play. The Bucks are in sole possession of first place in the SAC-8 as the only remaining undefeated team in the conference.
Pinecrest and Jack Britt are tied for second at 4-1 while Richmond and Scotland are tied for third place at 3-2. Lumberton, Purnell and Seventy-First are still searching for their first SAC-8 victories.
The Scots were on the road Wednesday in non-conference action against Lee County and will remain on the road Friday as they head to Raeford for their second game against Hoke. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 23.
Amber Hatten-Staley can be reached at 910-506-3170 or ahatten@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com.
