MINT HILL, NC – The final game of the series was played Friday at Porter Ridge High School where a large crowd saw the Pirates stay undefeated as they took an 11-10 conference win over the Patriots.
Indy started out scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Wilson Lohrer singled to center field and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Designated hitter Brandon Moser drew a walk and after stealing second on a double steal call by Coach Skinner, Lohrer and Moser both scored on a Carson Gesing single to left field. Taylor Moser followed with a double to left field. Gesing attempted to score from first but was gunned out at home and Indy led 2-0.
In the bottom of the inning, Porter Ridge’s lead-off hitter Jaylen Brown drew a walk. Ryan Schwartz singled to right moving Brown to second. Blake Efird followed with a single scoring Brown. Schwartz was thrown out at the third base. After a hard-hit line drive to Indy’s shortstop Carson Gesing, the inning ended with Indy lading 2-1.
Porter Ridge tied the score in the bottom of the second after shortstop Trace Snead singled to center field and scored on a force out at second.
The Pirates took the lead 6-2 in the bottom of the third scoring four runs on four hits and one Indy error.
However, the Patriots answered back in the fourth scoring 7 runs on 5 hits and 2 Porter Ridge errors. With one out Garrett Lawerence was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. After Sam Merli’s sacrifice bunt moving Lawerence to second, Luke Chantry drew a walk putting runners on first and second. Wilson Lohrer stepped up to the plate and blasted a double to right field scoring Lawrence and Chantry. Brandon Moser followed and drove in Lohrer with a single to center field. After Carson Gesing reached an error, Taylor Moser doubled to left field scoring his brother Brandon Moser and Gesing. PJ Chiles reached on a throwing error to first base scoring Taylor Moser. Chiles scored the final run in the inning on a Garrett Lawrence single giving Indy a 9-6 lead heading into the bottom half of the fourth inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Pirates retook the lead 10-9 scoring 4 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks.
In the top of the fifth, Indy tied the score 10-10. Luck Chantry doubled to center and stole third. A few pitches later, Chantry was awarded home on a called balk by the home plate umpire.
In the bottom of the fifth, the sixth and the top of the seventh innings both teams went down in order making the score 10-10 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Porter Ridge’s lead-off hitter Blake Efird singled to center field. Efird advanced to third on a Conner Shepherd single to right field.
With one out and runners on first and third, Indy’s pitcher attempted a pick-off play at third. However, his throw was wide. As the ball rolled to the fence Blake Efird came home for the winning run.
After a hard-fought game, Indy goes down 11-10 and falls to 3-3 in the conference while Porter Ridge stayed undefeated at 6-0.
Independence  200 710 0 – 10
Porter Ridge   114 400 1 – 11
