MINT HILL, NC – Monday’s road game with East Mecklenburg saw the Eagles trailing by two runs heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Eagles rallied by scoring three runs in the inning and holding Indy scoreless in the top of the seventh to take an 8-7 conference win. Indy got things started by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning only to have the Eagles tie the score in the bottom half of the inning.
East Meck took the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a Brantley Truitt two-run home run over the right-field wall to put the Eagles up 4-2. The Patriots tied the score in the fourth inning. With two outs, Thomas Miller drew a walk and Joseph Reddish reached on an error. With two on Jake Stanley hit a double deep into center field scoring Miller and Reddish tying the score 4-4. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Eagles loaded the bases. With the bases loaded and no outs, East Meck’s Woody Gray hit a hard grounder to Indy’s third baseman Frank Jones Jr., who fielded the ball and threw to Indy’s catcher Daniel Ramos for the force out. However, the Patriots gave up a run making the score 5-4 in favor of East Meck.
In the top of the sixth inning, Indy’s Cooper Golden reached on an infield hit. Thomas Miller followed with a base hit. With two on and no outs, Joseph Reddish singled scoring Golden. Jake Stanley followed and hit a long sacrifice fly to center field scoring Miller. Indy’s third run came on a Tyler Spicer single scoring Reddish giving Indy a 7-5 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, after the Eagles’ lead-off batter grounded out, Brantley Truitt came to the plate and blasted his second home run of the game to make the score 7-6. Skye Jones stepped into the batters’ box and belted another homer to tie the score 7-7.
After the home crowd calmed down following the back-to-back homers, Brock Fowler stepped to the plate and, not to be outdone, hit East’s third straight home run to give East Meck the lead 8-7. Indy was unable to plate any runs in the top of the seventh inning giving the Eagles the conference win.
Independence 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 – 7
East Mecklenburg 2 2 0 0 1 3 X – 8
Thursday’s Game
The second game in the conference series was played Thursday night at Independence High School and the Patriots evened the series with a 14-4 conference win.
In the bottom of the second inning, PJ Chiles led off and drew a walk. Joseph Reddish followed. While Reddish was at the plate, Chiles stole second base. With Chiles at second, Reddish hit a double to deep center scoring Chiles giving Indy a 1-0 lead. In the top of the third inning, East Meck hammered out three hits and scored on an Indy throwing error to take the lead 4-1.
The Patriots answered back in the bottom half of the inning scoring five runs on five hits and one walk. Cooper Golden led off and reached on a bunt down the third baseline. Luke Chantry followed and drew a walk. Thomas Miller was next up and loaded the bases with a bunt. With the bases loaded and one out, PJ Chiles singled to center field scoring Golder and Chantry. Joseph Reddish stepped into the batters’ box and hit a hard shot deep into the third base gap scoring Miller. Frank Jones Jr. reached on an infield hit scoring Chiles. Garrett Lawrence reached on a fielder’s choice driving in Jones Jr. to take a 6-4 lead after three full innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots added three more runs on scores by Luke Chantry, Thomas Miller, and PJ Chiles making the score 9-4. The Patriots kept the offense going by scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase their lead 12-5. Indy ended the game in the bottom of the sixth. Needing only two runs to take a mercy run win, Zack Mangum led off with a walk and stole second. Luke Chantry singled to center field. After Thomas Mill singled, Jake Stanley came to the plate a hit a double to center field scoring the two runs to make the score 14-4 which ended the game.
PJ Chiles led the Patriots with three hits, four RBIs, and scored three runs.
East Mecklenburg 0 0 4 0 0 0 – 4
Independence 0 1 5 3 3 2 – 14
