ST. ALBANS, WV- It may have taken two extra innings, but the Greenbrier East Spartans picked up a huge road win on Wednesday, April 13 when they defeated the St. Albans Red Dragons 5-4 in a thrilling game the Spartans needed in a big way.
With the game tied at 4-all in the top of the ninth inning, Zion Detko hit an RBI double that scored Darris Boswell, and the Spartans hung on for the win to get back to .500 on the season.
East (9-9) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first on Boswell’s RBI single that brought Ian Cline home, the Red Dragons answered in the bottom half with a Ryker Parker RBI base hit as well.
East then put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the second frame and did it with two home runs in the inning. Gavin Bennett hit a solo shot to left field, and a couple batters later, with a runner on base, Cline belted a 2-run shot to left and East was in command with a 4-1 lead after two.
But St. Albans (11-5) came alive in the fourth and their bats woke up. Ayden Youngblood hit a 2-run homer and Garrett Comer ripped an RBI double that tied the game at 4-apiece.
Bennett entered the game on the mound in the seventh and kept the Red Dragons offense off of the scoreboard for three innings. His relief appearance allowed East the opportunity to go to extra innings when Detko got the eventual game winning RBI hit.
Bennett pitched three innings, did not allow a hit or a run. He did walk three batters but had a strikeout as well and picked up the win.
Cline, Boswell, Clayton Morgan and Bennett each had two hits. Cline scored two runs and drove in two more.
Tristan Harless led St. Albans and went 2-3 at the plate.
East returns to action tomorrow, Friday, April 14 at Spring Mills.
