Sports Writer

Ashford Academy looked all day long for a pitcher in yesterday’s game against Pike Liberal Arts, but the Falcons just couldn’t find one.

After jumping to a 5-0 lead, Ashford watched their pitching disintegrate as the Patriots stormed back to score seven runs in the bottom of the second en route to a 14-7 win.

In the first inning about the only hits PLAS got was in the form of wild pitches by Ashford starting pitcher Bo Walker. Two Patriot runners, Matt Floyd and Curt Garrett, were put on base courtesy of Walker.

And for Garrett, it wouldn’t be the last time he felt the sting of a thrown ball.

In the second inning, after a two run single by Will Hudson had tied the game at five apiece, Garrett stepped into the batters box and was promptly beamed again by a Walker pitch. After a glare and a few words toward the mound, Garrett took his place at first and Walker was relieved by Darrel Willock.

Willock gave up two more runs in the inning and when Wes Jordan dropped a three run double into center field, Willock was relieved in favor of Chase Cobb. Cobb walked the next three batters he faced and was pulled, replaced by Jeremy Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat finished out the inning.

The Falcons scored two in the top of the fourth, but PLAS did them one better with three runs scoring their turn at bat.

Ashford’s Cody Sprouse had the only home run of the day by either team, with a two run shot over left field in the first inning.

After scoring two more runs in the second, the Falcons looked to up their lead when Walker sent a high arching ball into center field, which looked to drop before Patriot center fielder Brad Egerton would be able to get there.

But Egerton snagged the ball on the run and with two Falcon base runners in a log jam at third base, the Patriots easily retired the side.

Egerton went 3/5 from the plate, with two doubles and a single, driving in a total of four runs. Will Hudson had a two RBI single.