South baseball sweeps YVC twinbill with North Rowan

Published 2:34 pm Monday, March 11, 2019

After two non-conference losses in a row, the South Stanly men’s baseball team returned to conference play and the win column by sweeping a doubleheader Thursday over North Rowan. The Bulls took the first game 4-3, then swept the day with an 8-3 win in the nightcap.

In the opening game, Garrett Swink earned the win in relief for the Bulls, allowing one earned run in two innings of relief with one walk and six strikeouts. Swink took over for starter Sawyer Smith in the sixth after Smith struck out 10, giving up one earned run on three hits in five innings.

Charlie Dunham took the loss for the Cavaliers in the first game in relief.

Playing as the visiting team despite being in Norwood at the Bulls’ home field, South took a two-run lead in the top of the third. North Rowan rallied to tie the game with runs in the third and fifth. Both teams scored single runs in the sixth inning to leave the game tied 3-3.

In the top of the seventh, Mabe Campbell doubled, then his pinch runner, Jaxon Barbee, scored on an error by the North Rowan third baseman to put South up for good.

Campbell led the offense with two doubles and an RBI, while Smith and Drake Page each had two hits and both drove in one run each.

South’s offense scored eight runs in the first four innings, including three in the first and four in the third, en route to a five-run win and the doubleheader sweep.

Hayden Brown pitched six innings to earn the win in the second game for South (3-2, 3-0 YVC) allowing three earned runs on four hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Crafton Mansfield pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Bulls in the seventh.

Bryan Lawson went the distance for North Rowan (0-3, 0-2), striking out three and walking three while giving up two earned runs on five hits.

South hosts Uwharrie Charter on Tuesday night, then goes out of YVC play Thursday to Carson.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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