By STEPHEN BRICKLER
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — Eastridge broke open a 3-3 game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth as Evan Bishop pitched a complete game allowing six hits with five strikeouts and no walks for the Lancers. The right-hander gave up one earned run on the day and helped his cause by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.
The Lancers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as leadoff hitter Xzavier Hughey singled and advanced to second on a balk and was driven in by Bishop on a double to right center. In the bottom of the third, Eastridge extended its lead to 2-0 when centerfielder Brennen Russo singled, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a single to left field by designated hitter James Dietz.
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the fourth as Logan Caves singled, stole second and was driven in on an RBI double by Kaden Milliman. The Lancers regained their two-run margin in the bottom of the fourth when Jacob Augello led off the inning gaining first base on a hit by pitch. He was immediately driven home on the next at bat by Declan Caron who doubled to the wall in right center.
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North Rose-Wolcott evened the game at three in the top of the fifth by manufacturing two runs starting with Austin Smith reaching first on a hit by pitch with one out. A sacrifice bunt by Lucien Macro advanced Smith to second and an infield single by Nicholas Gilbert moved Smith to third. Cody Crane then singled to left to score Smith to cut the Lancer lead to 3-2. Gilbert and Crane then advanced to third and second respectively on a double steal. A Lancer error in the infield allowed Gilbert to score before Bishop was able to strikeout Milliman to end the Cougar rally.
The Lancers also played small ball to score the decisive three runs in the bottom of the sixth, all coming with two outs. Declan Caron led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Nichols. Caron then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a seeing eye single to left by Hughey. Hughey proceeded to steal second and then advance to third on a a wild pitch. An infield single by Russo scored Hughey to give the Lancers a 5-3 edge. Russo advanced to third on a two-base error on an overthrow from a pickoff attempt at first. Russo scored on a Bishop RBI single.
Bishop put down the Cougars in the top of the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning.
“Evan Bishop came in and did his job today,” Lancer head coach Chris Taylor said. “He pitched ahead in the count and had the curveball working and then we came up with some timely hitting when we needed it, especially in the sixth inning. Playing small ball is how we have to win this year.”
NR-W starter Axton Paul gave up three earned runs on six hits while striking out five in five innings of work. Eastridge improves to 3-4 on the season while North Rose-Wolcott fell to 4-2.
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