FAIRLEA- The Greenbrier East Spartans hosted the Princeton Tigers in their home opener on Thursday, March 20 at Spartan Yards in Fairlea.
Both teams braved the cold temperatures and some windy conditions, but it was the Spartans who held on late to claim a 4-3 victory.
Princeton loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but Spartan pitcher Nelson Lynch got out of the jam with a force out throw at home and then a strikeout that ended the top half.
Zion Detko led off the bottom of the first with a triple and would eventually score on a wild pitch to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead against Princeton starting pitcher, Brody Combs.
The Tigers’ Deegan Walters tied things up in the second with an RBI single and at that point, the game was tied at 1-all.
The Spartans then scored one run apiece over the next three innings. They got an RBI single from Brady May in the third, a bunt RBI single from Brayden Baskcombe in the fourth, and a run scoring double from May again in the fifth.
Fast forward to the top of the seventh with East leading 4-2, May came onto the mound to close things out for the Spartans after a good outing from Lynch. Combs had an RBI groundout that cut the Tiger deficit to 4-3 with two outs. That left Evan Wright as Princeton’s last hope. But May got Wright to hit a slow rolling grounder to shortstop where Graham Brester fielded it and made the play for the out, and the Spartans survived the late Tiger rally.
May went 3-3 at the plate with a double and two RBIs. He also got the save on the mound.
Detko and Brewster each went 1-4 with a run scored, and Baskcombe was 1-3 with an RBI.
Lynch got the win and lasted six innings and scattered six hits. He allowed just one earned run, struck out seven, and walked three.
Princeton’s Combs took the loss after four innings, six hits, three runs, and nine strikeouts.
The Spartans are back at it today at home, Friday, March 21 when they host Hedgesville in a Friday/Saturday double-header.
