Greensburg, IN – An eight run fourth inning gave the Greensburg Pirates a four run cushion, however visiting East Central would not go quietly on Thursday night’s showdown.

East Central took an early lead in the second inning off of AJ Schomber’s (2013) RBI single through the right side bringing home Nick DeZarn (2014). The Trojans would tack on three more runs in the fourth to take a commanding 4-0 lead. DeZarn earned the start Thursday night for East Central and looked good through the first three innings, throwing two strikeouts and keeping the Greensburg hitters off balance.  

In the fourth, the Pirates finally found some offense with Macy Holdsworth (2014) leading off the inning by getting hit by a pitch.  Collin Rigney (2014) then bunted a ball past the pitcher to reach first safely, and Andy Meadows (2014) singled to left to load the bases.  Riley Billieu (2013) lined a ball just over the shortstops head to bring home Greensburg’s first run and Josiah Buell took a bases loaded walk to bring home another. Leadoff hitter Ethan Bailey (2012) followed up the walk with a line drive single to left that brought home two more runs. Tyler Burcham (2013) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Austin Schultz (2013), who ripped a double to the left centerfield wall clearing the bases. That would be the end for DeZarn, with LHP Nate Werner (2013) coming in to relieve DeZarn.  Werner was able to get the first two batters out, but Rigney would single to bring home Schultz giving Greensburg an 8-4 lead.

East Central cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth with a two run blast to left from shortstop Drew Werner (2012). The Pirates got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Clayton Tressler (2012) got in a rundown allowing Schultz to score from third.

In the 7^th Greensburg brought in Rigney to replace starting pitcher Kevin Meyer (6 IP, 6 ER, 8 K, 80-84 MPH).  East Central’s Josh Ashcroft (2012) crushed a ball to left field for a homerun cutting the deficit to 9-7. Cory Spencer (2012) and Brandon Merkin (2013) followed up the homerun with back to back singles that chased Rigney from the game.  Luke Kane (2013) entered the game for Rigney and was able to close the door on East Central’s comeback.

Final: Greensburg 9 East Central 7