Three Patriot pitchers combined to throw a two-hit complete game shutout in Pike’s 4-0 win over Emmanuel Christian on Tuesday afternoon.

After scoring four runs over the first two innings, the bats went silent for the Patriots.

“Games like these you want to give everybody some playing time and when you have that mindset it kind of keeps you from getting into the flow,” said Patriots head coach Allen Ponder. “No excuses: we have to better in those situations. I’m glad we got the runs early, but we can’t be complacent.”

Tristen Carter got the start for the Patriots and went three innings without allowing a hit and striking out seven batters. Clay Barron pitched three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out four. Hunter Jones cleaned up the final run by allowing one single before striking out the side to end the game.

“Our pitching staff threw okay today,” Ponder said. “I think Tristan threw much better after his performance on Saturday. Clay came in and did a good job for us, but we have to continue pound the strike zone.”

After Carter struck out the side in the first, the Patriots scored the first runs of the game courtesy of two Warrior errors. Hunter Jones led off the inning and came around to score when Wood Jinright reached on an error. Jade Sikes drove in Wood Jinright on a fielder’s choice and Reed Jinright scored the final run on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Barron to make the score 3-0.

The Warriors failed to put the ball in play again in the second inning. They were able to get two runners on via walks before Carter once again struck out the side to end the threat.

The Patriots added another run in the second inning when Wood Jinright doubled in Michael Cox to bring the score to 4-0 after two innings.

The Patriots were only able to manage two hits the rest of the way, but with the play of the pitching staff, they were able to hang on to the win.

In junior varsity action on Tuesday afternoon, the Pike Patriots also defeated the Warriors 8-3. The Lady Patriots swept the Lady Warriors 14-4 and 10-3.

The Patriots will be back in action on Thursday when they host Fort Dale beginning at 3:30 p.m.