VIDALIA — Second-ranked Pierce County completed a back-to-back, home-and-home series sweep here Friday night posting a 7-1 victory.
The March 6 win by the Bears (9-3) followed a 21 decision Thursday at home over the Class A DI Indians (10-6), who lost a third consecutive game and sixth in eight outings.
PCHS opens up Region 3-AA play this week with a three-game slate against Tattnall County (7-4). The Bears traveled Tuesday, March 10, to Reidsville with the series shifting Thursday, March 12, to Bearville for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The series finale moves back to Reidsville Friday, March 13.
A series with Appling County follows with Game 1 set for Tuesday, March 17, in Baxley. The Bears will host Game 2 Thursday, March 19, with the Friday, March 20, series finale in Baxley. All three games have 6 p.m. starts.
Emmitt Hall (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP) and Brantley Willis (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB) combined on a four-hitter against Vidalia.
Dylan Johnson (2-for-4, two RBI) paced the Bears’ eight-hit attack.
PCHS opened the game with back-to-back three-run uprisings to take control early. Five of the first six batters reached in the opening frame.
Chance Williams (1-for-1, two steals) worked an eight-pitch walk to lead off the game. After Williams stole second, Beck Hodges (1-for-3) dropped down a bunt, putting runners on the corners. Jack McClellan’s (1-for-2) legged out a run-scoring infield hit for a 1-0 lead.
An error on Jonathan Stone’s ensuing grounder loaded the bases for PCHS. Following the first out, Christian Osbourne’s (1-for-3) liner was misplayed, allowing Hodges and McClellan to score for a 3-0 advantage.
Vidalia plated its lone run in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single, stolen base and error, and a oneout single scored the Indians’ run, getting the home team to within 31.
A third single and a hit batter loaded the bases before Pierce County turned an inning-ending double play.
The Bears started the second with singles by Grayson Arington (1-for-4) and Williams. Hodges’ sacrifice bunt was mishandled loading the bases.
McClellan lifted a sacrifice fly to right scoring Arington for a 4-1 lead. After Williams and Hodges executed a two-out double steal, Johnson dumped a two-run single into right extending the margin to 6-1.
After Hall escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth, PCHS tacked on a final run in the sixth. Williams walked, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on Beck’s bunt and scored on a McClellan groundout.
Willis retired Vidalia in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
