Baseball hosted Richard Bland for a three-game conference series this past weekend. The Trojans tied the previous program wins record (27) on Friday and broke it in game two on Saturday.
Baseball is currently 28-21 overall and 24-14 in conference play going into the last week of the regular season games.
FTCC vs. Richard Bland
Game One- 8-7, Win (10-innings)
The Trojans were up early until the Statesmen scored four in the top of the fifth to make it a new ball game. The Trojans were down by one going into the bottom of the ninth and were able to tie it up to force extra innings.
Brantley Hayward (Plant City, FL) started the inning off with a single. With one out, Cole Feldman (Midlothian, VA) was hit by pitch to move Hayward into scoring position. With two outs, Eythan Reynolds (Pinehurst, NC) hit a big up the middle single to plate the tying run.
The Trojans were able to get out of a jam in the top of the tenth from a diving catch by Chase Goodwin (Lawrenceville, GA) who then doubled up the runner trying to tag from first base.
In the bottom of the tenth, Phil Williams (Wilmington, NC) walked and then stole second base. He advanced to third on a ground ball by Jordan Wright (Rocky Mount, NC). Jerremy Miller (Keystone Heights, FL) pinch hit and hit a line drive single to score Williams for the walk-off win.
Ricky Montalvo (Inman, SC) started on the bump throwing 4.2 innings earning three strikeouts to set a new strikeout record at FTCC. Reno Jeter (Asheville, NC) came on in relief for 1.1 innings and Jackson Sherron (Wendell, NC) closed out the final four innings allowing no runs to get the win.
Game Two- 9-12, Loss
The Statesmen scored first but the Trojans were able to take the lead in the bottom of the second. From there, the lead went back and forth every inning between the Statesmen and the Trojans.
The Statesmen were able to put up four in the seventh and add one more in the ninth to secure the lead and the win.
Goodwin went 3-6 at the plate with three RBIs and a homerun. Wright had three RBIs and an in the park homerun.
Jacob Chavis (Prospect, NC) started on the mound throwing 4.1 innings with three strikeouts. Caden Jeffrey (Fayetteville, NC) threw the next two innings with three strikeouts before Tommy Parker (St. Paul’s, NC) finished out the final 2.2 innings with five strikeouts.
Game Three- 6-1, Win
Game three was pitcher’s duel until the Statesmen scored one run in the top of the fourth. The Trojans responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
Hayward walked and Reynolds singled to put two runners on in scoring position. Goodwin hit a hard line drive to the second baseman that scored two. Dylan Vazquez (Bega Baja, PR) singled to keep the rally going and Kristian Scales (Madison, NC) hit an RBI ground ball to plate the third run.
The Trojans added two more runs in the fifth from a Hayward double and a single from Camden Lusk (Ball Ground, GA).
In the sixth Scales singled and then scored on an RBI triple from Wright.
Wright went 3-4 at the plate with a triple and one RBI.
Israel Moore (Lakeville, MN) started on the bump throwing 5.2 innings striking out six. Chandon Sanderson (Pembroke, NC) and Graysen Stafford (Stedman, NC) finished off the final innings 1.1 innings.
Baseball is back at home on Tuesday night hosting their last mid-week game with Robeson. First pitch is set for 6PM. They will then head to Southeastern-Whiteville for their final three-game conference series starting Friday at noon.
