BEARVILLE — Pierce County clinched a Regiion 3-AA series victory here Wednesday, beating visiting Tattnall County 11-1 in five innings.
The middle game of the three-game series was moved up to March 11 with the threat of inclement weather Thursday, March 12.
Second-ranked PCHS’s (11-3 overall, 2-0 region) win streak reached four games. The Bears have allowed just five runs over the stretch.
Pierce County, a 12-2 winner in the series opener in five innings, overcame a 1-0 deficit, scoring seven runs in the fourth and ending the game with a four-run fifth.
The Warriors broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with their lone run. PCHS starter Christian Osbourne (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) retired the first six Tattnall County batters before a leadoff double to start the third.
An ensuing first-pitch sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third. A groundout on an 0-2 pitch plated the runner for a 1-0 lead.
PCHS, after stranding Dylan Johnson (1-for-2) in the second after a oneout single, and Bryson Smith (1-for-2) in the third, following a leadoff double, exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, collecting just three hits.
Consecutive one-out errors on grounders hit by Jack McClellan (1-for-3) and Jonathan Stone ignited the rally. A fivepitch walk to Johnson loaded the bases.
Osbourne was hit by the next offering, forcing home McClellan, tying the score at 1-apiece. A Brantley Willis (2-for-3) two-run single two pitches later gave the Bears their first lead at 3-1. Smith followed with a walk re-loading the bases.
Kolton Brogdon, courtesy running for Osbourne, scored on a wild pitch ahead of Grayson Arington’s (2-for-3) runscoring single, upping the margin to 5-1. Chance Williams was hit one pitch later, the fourth time in two games he had been drilled by Tattnall County pitchers, loading the bases for the third time in the inning.
A two-out, two-run single by McClellan capped the scoring for a 7-1 advantage.
PCHS used a leadoff two-base error on a ball hit by Osbourne to kick start a four-run fifth. After moving to third on a passed ball, Osbourne trotted home on a Willis single to left, extending the lead to 8-1.
A second two-base error on a ball hit by Smith put runners at second and third. Consecutive run-scoring singles by Arington and Williams moved the advantage to 10-1. After Hodges drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, McClellan lifted a gameending sacrifice fly to left scoring Arington to have the “10-run mercy rule” implemented.
