Lexington takes a 2-0 lead, Stanly County looks to avoid sweep tonight on the road

By Jim Lisk, Editor

Thursday, July 10, 2008 July 11, 2008 09:20 am

— In a classic pitcher’s duel, Lexington left-hander Jordan Hudson dominated Stanly County hitters while two unearned runs in the second inning doomed Post 76’s Ethan Austin in Lexington’s 3-1 win Wednesday night.
The game was re-scheduled after Tuesday evening’s stormy, wet weather; but, with a light rain early and threatening skies later, the game was played in less than ideal conditions,
The two teams play tonight in Lexington at Holt Moffitt Field at 7 p.m. with Stanly County facing elimination after two two-run game losses.
With a light rain falling to start action Wednesday night, Austin worked out of a first-inning jam. The rising senior right-hander at North Stanly tried to bust lead-off hitter Zach Joyce with high-heat, but plunked him to open the game.
Joyce moved to second on a passed ball, but Austin got Luke Wilhelm on a ground out to third before walking the dangerous Zach Briggs, who came into the playoffs with 15 home runs and hit five ropes in five at bats on Monday night.
But Austin got out the first-and-third jam by getting clean-up switch-hitter Matt Tysinger on a weak pop-up back to the mound, then fanning Jarrett Albright.
Post 76 threatened in the bottom of the first as No. 2 hitter Jordan Sells was hit by a pitch and Nate Furr was walked by the Lexington lefty, Jordan Hudson.
Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, but Hudson got Stanly County clean-up hitter Corey Dick swinging at a sweeping curveball, then got Jacob Beck on a bouncer to shortstop to end the inning.
With the light rain still falling, Stanly County gave Lexington a fourth out in the second inning and were made to pay with a two-spot going on the scoreboard.
Left-handed hitting Alex Grubb led off with a slow bouncer to third and reached on Dick’s throwing error. Austin then hit Alex Clodfelter with another inside fastball off the plate to put two on base with no outs.
But again, Austin found his strike out pitch, getting Ben Redmond swinging to bring No. 9 hitter Matt Nifong to the plate.
The left-hand hitting Nifong ripped a double to the right field corner, scoring Grubb with the game’s first run. Then with runners on second and third, Austin got Joyce on a bouncer back to the mound for the second out before walking Wilhelm to load the bases.
The hot-hitting Briggs hit a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop and beat Nate Furr’s throw to first base to drive in the second run of the inning.
Austin got Tysinger on a ground out to first to leave the bases loaded, but the two unearned runs were all Lexington would need.
Hudson completely dominated Stanly County for six innings, allowing only a bloop single to right by Tyler Westall and a solid single to center by Tanner Furr in the fifth.
Furr’s single came with two outs and was followed by a walk to Bradley Love. But after Jordan Sells fell behind 0-2 on two called strikes, Furr broke for third base as Hudson went into his stretch. Furr was caught in a rundown and tagged out to end the threat.
Coach Marko Little argued that Hudson had balked, but to no avail.
Lexington took a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning when Redmond opened with a ground-ball double inside the third-base bag.
With the Post 76 infield corners drawn-in in anticipation of a bunt from that No. 9 hitter Matt Nifong, he once again delivered with a clutch hit. The slightly-built lefty fouled off an attempted bunt on the first pitch, then ripped a liner past first baseman Jacob Beck, who was positioned some 10 feet in front of the bag. The hit scored Redmond for a 3-0 lead.
Stanly County got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning and were one hit away from tying the game.
With one-out, Burris ripped a liner to left-center for a single and both Eudy and Westall followed with walks to load the bases.
Tanner Furr followed with a grounder to shortstop, but Lexington was unable to turn the double-play as Furr hustled down the line to beat the relay throw as Burris scored.
But Hudson got Love on a bouncer to third base to leave the tying runners stranded.
Lexington threatened in the eighth as Redmond got his second hit of the game with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. But this time Austin got the pesky Nifong on a grounder to Beck at first base as Redmond moved to third.
Coach Marko Little then went to Nate Furr for the final and the rising Catawba sophomore struck out Joyce swinging to end the inning.
Hudson threw the eighth inning for Lexington, getting to fly ball outs to right field and striking out Nate Furr for the third time.
Furr walked one in the ninth, but allowed no further damage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Lexington Coach Matt Griffin went to Luke Wilhelm in relief of Hudson and the starting second baseman impressed by striking out the side ... all on called third strikes.
For the game, Hudson struck out 10, walked four and hit one batter while allowing just three hits. In his 7 2/3 innings, Austin struck out seven, walked two, hit two and allowed eight hits.
The No. 8 and No. 9 hitters for Lexington - Redmond and Nifong - did the most damage with two hits apiece. Nifong had the two clutch RBIs as well.

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