A back-and-forth week rightfully saw the American Legion Baseball Area I East final head to a decisive Game 5 Friday.<\/p>\n
The route there was perfectly represented by Thursday\u2019s action as Pitt County Post 39 split an evening doubleheader at Wilson Post 13. It knotted the best-of-five series at two games apiece.<\/p>\n
After Wilson won the day\u2019s opener, 8-2, Pitt responded with another impressive defensive performance and took the nightcap 6-1.<\/p>\n
Game 4 was decided in the second inning, when Post 39 hung a five-spot. The first two runs came on bases-loaded walks, then Tillman Caskey shot a two-RBI single to right that put Pitt up 4-0. Aiden Parker added one more score later in the frame on an RBI hit of his own.<\/p>\n
Post 13 responded with just one run in the bottom half, also coming by way of a bases-loaded walk. But Nate Hale, who was awarded the win for Pitt, limited the damage and ended the inning with a strikeout.<\/p>\n
Hale lasted 6.2 frames, allowed the one run while posting five Ks. He helped shut down the Wilson lineup and posted zeros in all but one inning. Parker assisted by getting the final out, sitting down Evan Johnson with the winning run on base.<\/p>\n
Parker, Rooke Knittle and Reed Kennedy led the Post 39 offense with two hits apiece. Knittle scored two runs, one coming in the sixth to put his club up 6-1.<\/p>\n
The two teams alternated wins through each of the four games. Game 5 was set for Friday night at South Central High, with the winner securing an automatic berth to the Legion State Tournament.<\/p>\n
Yard Gnomes<\/p>\n
Greenville\u2019s Coastal Plains League baseball club Thursday dropped a sixth straight contest.<\/p>\n
The Yard Gnomes lost a shootout at home to Morehead City, 17-11. It was Greenville\u2019s second loss to Morehead in as many nights.<\/p>\n
Despite both sides totaling 13 hits, the Marlins\u2019 power was too much as they belted five home runs and 14 RBIs. Jovan Gill finished with three of those long balls, also tallying six RBIs.<\/p>\n
Brooks Sartain led the Yard Gnomes with a 3-for-4 effort, also bringing home four.<\/p>\n
Greenville pulled ahead 3-2 after the second inning, but allowed five to come across in the third and never led again.<\/p>\n
The Yard Gnomes made things interesting in the eighth with a five-spot of their own, cutting the deficit to 15-11. But the Marlins scored two more in the ninth to seal things.<\/p>\n
Greenville was set to play at the Tri-City Chili Peppers Friday, before returning to Guy Stadium Saturday for another matchup with Morehead at 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n