CORDELE — Three Pierce County pitchers combined on a one-hitter in the Bears 11-0 victory Friday's in the opening game of a Region 3-AA doubleheader here against Crisp County.
The second-ranked Bears (17-3 overall, 8-0 region) stretched their season- high winning streak to 10 games March 27 behind the combined pitching of Christian Osbourne (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 K, 1 BB), Kolton Brogdon (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB) and Colt Hickox (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP). The trio needed just 105 pitches.
Half of PCHS’s 12 hits went for extra bases with Beck Hodges (2-for-4) leading the way with two doubles and four runs batted in. Grayson Arington (3-for-4, ribbie, stole base), Jonathan Stone (2for-5, RBI), Chance Williams (1-for-3, two RBI, stolen base) and Dylan Johnson (1-for-2) recorded a double each.
Held hitless for the first three innings by the Cougars’ (7-13, 1-4) Bryson Bowen, Pierce County exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning banging out seven hits to take control of the game. Stone lined the second pitch for an infield hit igniting a stretch of six consecutive batters. Johnson followed with a double with Osbourn walking to load the bases with nobody out.
Brantley Willis (1-for-4) delivered a two-run single breaking up the scoreless game. After Bryson Smith (1-for-3) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to reload the bases, Arington legged out an infield hit plating the third run of the inning. Williams and Hodges followed with consecutive sacrifice flies to center extending the margin to 5-0.
Jack McClellan (1-for-5) roped a run-scoring single one pitch after the Hodges’ sac fly. Stone followed with a run-scoring double on the ensuing pitch to open up a 7-0 advantage.
The Bears dented the plate with two runs in the fifth in taking a 9-0 lead. Smith was safe on a one-out error. An Arington first-pitch single to center and a walk to Williams loaded the bases. Hodges followed with a firstpitch, two-run double.
PCHS lost the no-hit bid with Brogdon surrendering leadoff single on an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the sixth.
Pierce County tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh getting three consecutive doubles from Arington, Williams and Hodges swelling the lead to 11-0.
