PRINCETON (WVDN) – The Greenbrier East Spartans had a Jekyll and Hyde-like performance on Thursday night, April 28, in Princeton against the Tigers.
After going up 5-0 in the first inning, East allowed Princeton to take a 6-5 lead in the third.
The Spartans (12-12) tied it up in the sixth, then went up by three in the seventh. But, not without drama, they had to hold off the Tigers late rally and hold on for an important 9-8 victory, and they got back to .500 in the process.
The game was tied at 6-all with Greenbrier East batting in the top of the seventh, when Ashton Cochran doubled on a 2-0 count that scored Peyton DeHaven and Darris Boswell and the Spartans took an 8-6 lead.
Despite falling down by five runs in the first inning, Princeton tried to fight back and did a pretty good job of it.
Princeton scored seven runs in the failed comeback on an error in the second, a sacrifice fly by Shane Hirginbotham in the third, a home run by Grant Cochran in the third, a single by Eli Sampson in the third, a walk by Hirginbotham in the seventh, and a walk by Jason Bailey in the seventh.
With runners on second and third, and the Tigers down just one with their best hitter, Cochran at the plate, Heaster got him to pop out to third baseman Gabe Patton for the final out of the game.
In the bottom of the third inning, Princeton tied things up at five when Sampson singled on a 1-0 count and drove a run home.
Chris Heaster took the win for the Spartans on the mound. Heaster lasted two innings, allowed one hit and two runs, and struck out one.
Lucas Monogan took the loss for Princeton. He went two innings, scattered two hits and three runs while striking out two and walking one.
Greenbrier East racked up nine hits.
Boswell and Cochran both had multiple hits. Boswell went 3-for-5 and scored three runs and Cochran went 2-for-5 and had two RBI’s.
Grant Cochran led Princeton with two hits in three at bats, including a home run.
East will hosted Martinsburg Saturday, April 30, as the regular season starts to wind down. Stay tuned for updates on that game.
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