Home – Wake Forest Rolesville 2
Visitors – Broughton 4

Saunders Hurls Complete Game and Caps Rebound with Big 4-2 Conference Road Win Vs. League Leading Wake Forest Rolesville

The Caps show up in Wake Forest with a short memory putting Friday’s disappointing outing with Leesville Road behind them. Combining exceptional pitching, a strong defensive effort with just enough hitting to take advantage of WFR’s errors and walks.  WFR came into the day with an undefeated conference record (2-0) and their Ace Nick Silva on the mound but it was not enough for the mighty boys in purple and gold.

Caps jumped out early with 3 runs in the top of the 1st proving to be all the runs needed for the win. DH Will Barfield led things off with a walk and took second on a pass ball. JR., Will Cooper stroked a single to right center and scored Barfield. Sr. Brandon Saunders moved Cooper over and reached 1B on an errant throw pulling the first baseman off the bag. Sr.’s Payne Eller and Tanner Parker followed up with an RBI each scoring Cooper and Saunders for a Caps 3 run start. WFR ace Silva settled down after the first and the game turned into a Cap 8 pitching duel between Saunders and Silva Through six innings with neither team scoring till the 7th. Silva gave way to Lewis in the top of the 7th and the Caps pushed an insurance run across making it 4-0 taking advantage of 2 errors and 2 walks and Sr. Eller picking up his second RBI of the day.

Winning pitcher, Sr. Brandon Saunders (2-0), kept WFR scoreless the first 6 innings behind a tremendous defensive error free effort and solid pitching surrendering only one hit and keeping the WFR hitters off balance with 7 strikeouts. Things got interesting in the bottom of the 7th with Saunders coming back out to finish the 7th. Falling behind the #3 hitter, Saunders surrendered a solo home run over the center field fence but quickly regained his composure to get his 8th strikeout of the game on the cleanup hitter. Up 4-1 the next WFR hitter stroked a double into right fielder and was pushed home on a single by the next batter closing the gap 4-2. With a runner on 1B and one out, Saunders rolled a double play grounder to sure handed second baseman Sophomore Max Magallanes who lost the handle while trying to make the quick throw. The Caps bowed up and again showed growth and maturity quickly putting the miscue behind them. With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Saunders again rolled a grounder to second baseman Magallenes who came up big turning the 4-6-3 double play with Sr. SS Kevin Partin and Sr. 1B Charlie Goode to end the game 4-2. The Caps win puts them back in the crowded conference first place race!

Broughton leading hitters – J. Bialkowski 1-4 (1B, 1 RBI); Will Cooper 1-3 (1B, 1RBI); J. Clark 1-2 (1B, 1 RBI).

The Caps next game is this Thursday, March 24, 4pm at Home versus Enloe.

Record Overall (4-2) Conf. (2-1)