Sports Editor

Pike shortstop Drew Kilpatrick went high to snag a Clint Pugh line drive in Troy’s final at-bat, preserving an 8-6 win at Hogan’s Hole on Tuesday night.

Up 8-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, Pike watched as Troy rallied to score four runs, three off a Daniel Porter home run, and close within two of the Post 145 lead.

When pitcher Brandon Hooks issued a walk to the next batter, Pike head coach Jerry Folmar new that his starter had ran out of gas.

Hooks had already shook off Folmar a few times in the final two innings.

"Brandon’s got so much potential, but he’s got to get his head on straight," joked Folmar. "He wanted to finish it so bad, but he just couldn’t."

Folmar made the decision to go with lefthander Dale Garrett. When Garrett gave up a single to David Doty and walked Chase Clower, Folmar pulled Wes Grant in from the outfield to pick up the save.

Grant struck out Jeremy Jones and walked one run in. Kilpatrick then leapt to grab Pugh’s hit and raced to second for the unassisted double play.

"I give these boys all the credit in the world," said Folmar. "We hit the ball well tonight. You have to give them credit also for coming back. Clint Pugh pitched a heck of a game for them."

Pugh went the full seven innings for Troy. Pike went up 3-0 on the Troy starter in the third off two doubles by Wes Johnson and Hooks.

Clower countered with an RBI single for Post 70 in the fourth.

Pike did its most damage in the top of the fifth. Johnson led off with a double, Hooks and Brandon Arnold both reached on errors and Scott Kirby delivered a two-run single into centerfield. Brady Dunn forced a run home with a ground ball and Luke Sanders hit an RBI double, giving Pike a 7-1 lead.

Pugh scored on error for Troy in the fifth, but Hooks answered with a solo-shot home run over left-center.

Hooks got in trouble early in seventh, walking Tyson Pugh, hitting Chase Kelly then giving up the big hit to Porter.

Pike now stands 8-4 on the season.

Troy falls to 13-3.