MINT HILL, NC – Looking to bounce back from Monday’s loss, Independence held off the Bulldogs to take a 9-5 win and even up the season series.

Indy plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead.  Designated hitter Brandon Moser led off for the Patriots and drew a walk.  Wilson Lohrer followed with a base hit to center field.  Carson Gesing reached on a walk to load the bases.  Taylor Moser stepped up to the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice forcing Gesing out at second, scoring Brandon Moser, and moving Lohrer to third.  Lohrer scored Indy’s second run on a wild pitch making the score 2-0 after one full inning.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the third.  Canon Pierce singled to center field, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.   After Indy’s Carson Gesing struck out Butler’s next batter, Peyton Hulighan singled driving in Pierce to make to score 2-1 with Indy leading at the end of three innings.

Butler tied the score in the top of the fourth.  Carson Carver reached on an error and moved to second on a Hudson Deese sacrifice bunt.  Holton Watson singled to left field scoring Carver to make the score 2-2.

However, the Patriots scored six runs in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead 8-2.   PJ Chiles led off with a single, stole second, and reached home. Jake Stanley drew a walk and scored on a passed ball.  Garrett Lawrence reached on a bunt down the third baseline and later scored on a called balk.  Designated hitter Brandon Moser was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch.  Wilson Lohrer hit a blast to the left centerfield wall which bounced over the wall for a ground rule double scoring Moser from second.  Taylor Moser followed with a double to the centerfield wall scoring Lohrer.  Luke Chantry reached on an error and Moser sprinted home to give the Patriots an 8-2 lead.

Indy’s final run came in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Sam Merli reached on an infield hit and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Wilson Lohrer drove in Merli on a single but was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double.

In the top of the seventh Butler had a little rally scoring three runs on two hits and a hit batter.  But Indy held off the Bulldogs and took a 9-5 conference win to split the season series.

On Thursday Indy will travel to Pembroke for a doubleheader against Purnell Swett.

Butler                001 100  3  –  5

Independence  200  610  X  –  9