By Staff
RYAN ROCKWELL, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON -- The Williamston Tigers needed only five innings to dispose of Washington, 13-3, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
J.J. House capped an explosive offensive day for Williamston, hitting a two-run homer to end Thursday's game.
Pam Pack starting pitcher Billy Moore struggled to get the Tigers out, walking seven batters and giving up 12 earned runs on eight hits. Moore was replaced in the fifth after walking two batters and giving up a single to load the bases with no outs.
Williamston pitcher Brad Roach pitched all five, giving up three earned runs on six hits, while striking out eight and walking two.
The Tigers (5-1) got one across in the first and never looked back. Both House and Chris Cullom walked, setting up and RBI single by Eubanks.
Then, in the second, two walks set up a five-run inning. Clay Griffin garnered the leadoff walk and David Francis hit a double to the fence in left-center. Brody Bland walked to load things up with no outs and Trey Warren grounded a two-run single into shallow right. House ripped a two-run double into left. After a throwing error by Moore, Cullom ripped an RBI single up the middle. All five runs were scored with no outs.
Washington (2-5) cut the six-run deficit to just three in the third. Leadoff batter Corey Calloway knocked a one-out double into right-center and scored two batters later on an Aaron Mobley single to left. With two aboard, Travis Rogerson got an RBI infield single on a high chopper, and a throwing error scored Jock Moore, making the score 6-3.
Unfortunately for the Pam Pack, Williamston got two back in the bottom half. A leadoff walk to Anthony Williams and an error by Josh Eddings made things easy for Francis, who singled to left to score Williams. Griffin, who reached on the error, scored from third on a double-play ball, making the score 8-3.
Roach re-captured his earlier brilliance on the mound in the fourth and fifth, striking out three without giving up a hit.
In the bottom of the fifth, Williamston decided to end things quickly, capitalizing on two walks by Moore. With no outs and the bases juiced, Rogerson relieved Moore. However, he could not get out Warren or House. Warren, who was 3-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBIs, ripped a two-run single up the middle. House's blast ended the game via the 10-run rule. House, 2-for-3 with four RBIs, sent a long shot over the wall in left, putting an exclamation point on the Tiger victory.
Washington 003 00 -- 3 6 2
Williamston 152 05 -- 13 10 1
WP: Brad Roach; LP: Billy Moore.
Wa: Corey Calloway 1-3 (2B), Aaron Mobley 1-3 (RBI), Travis Rogerson 2-2 (RBI), John Brown 1-2, Josh Eddings 1-1; Wi: Trey Warren 3-4 (4 RBIs), J.J. House 2-3 (2B, HR, 4 RBIs), Chris Cullum 1-2 (RBI), Dee Eubanks 1-3 (RBI), Clay Griffin 1-2, David Francis 2-2 (2B, RBI).