West Stokes Foils Nance's Strong Outing

West Stokes - 7 Morehead - 5

PBR was in Eden, North Carolina on Thursday night as a big conference matchup saw West Stokes overcome an early 4-0 deficit to capture a road win.  Kaden Fuller picked up the win, tossing 5.1 innings in relief, allowing only 1 run.

Morehead jumped on West Stokes starter, Mason Howell, throwing a 4 spot on the board in the 3rd inning.  The inning was paced by 3 walks to start the frame, and 4 total walks in the inning.  Fuller was brought in with 2 outs and a runner on base, striking out the first batter he faced to end the half.  

Morehead 2024 RHP Anderson Nance was in complete control through 3 innings, but the Wildcats worked to scratch a run in the 4th and 5th innings.  The 4th was jump started by a Jacob Smith triple to left center and he scored on a SAC Fly from Josh Jones.  The 5th got started with an infield error getting Matt Rierson to 2B with 1 out.  He was SAC bunted to 3B, and scored on a wild pitch, moving the score to 4-2.

Nance worked 6 innings for the Panthers, giving up the 2 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits and 1 walk.  He struckout 8.  In the 7th he handed the game to his bullpen after 94 pitches.  West Stokes took this opportunity to plate 3 runs, taking the lead on 3 hits and a walk.  Bryson Bowman’s double with no outs, moved the tying run to 2B with no outs.  

Now leading Fuller had the opportunity to close out the Panthers, but Nance opened the frame with a double to right.  He moved to 3B on a SAC bunt and scored on a SAC fly from Landon Roberts, giving up extra innings.

With one out in the top of the 8th, and the bases loaded, Rierson tried to execute a Suicide Squeeze, but the pitch was well off the plate, and Morehead cut the runner down from 3B, leaving the go ahead run at 3B, now with 2 outs.  Rierson answered the bell on the next pitch, lining a 2RBI single to center, moving West ahead 7-5.  Fuller nailed down the win in the bottom of the 8th.

With the win, West Stokes moves to 12-4 on the year, 5-1 in the Mid State 2A.  Morehead is now 12-3, 8-2 in the league.  The two clubs split their 2 game series over the week with Morehead winning on Tuesday 5-3.  Morehead will open up a spring break tournament on Saturday with games vs. Voyager Academy and North Stanly.  West Stokes continues conference play next week with a 2 game set with Walkertown.

West Stokes Stats:
+ Evan Cecile - 1-4, 1RBI
+ Jacob Smith - 1-4, 1R
+ Kaden Fuller - 2-4, 2R
+ Bryson Bowman - 2-3, 2B, 3R
+ Matt Rierson - 1-3, 2RBI
+ Dominic Mickle - 0-2, 1R, 1RBI
+ Mason Howell - ND in start, 2.2IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 5BB, 5K
+ Kaden Fuller - Win, 5.1IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K

Morehead Stats:
+ Lucas Lynn - 1-3, 2B, 1R
+ Anderson Nance - 2-4, 2B, 2R
+ Landon Woods - 1-3, 1R
+ Hayden Friese - 1-2, 1R, 1RBI
+ Brittyn Barnes - 2-4
+ Anderson Nance - ND in start, 6IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 8K
+ Hayden Friese - 0IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 0K
+ Matthew Simpson - Loss, 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K

*Player Scout Blog will be posted next week from this game as our scouts are out daily at Spring Break Tournaments today and this weekend.