ASHEBORO – Three Randolph County Post 45 pitchers combined on a four-hitter in an 8-3 victory against visiting Liberty Post 81 in American Legion baseball Sunday night at McCrary Park.
Drew Harmon pitched five innings, giving up three runs and three hits. Elijah Prince and Tate Andrews each threw an inning of shutout relief.
Post 45 (5-2) never trailed in notching a third consecutive victory. Caleb Coggins ripped a two-run double to deep center field with the bases loaded in the third. Jackson Hill doubled and scored in the fourth.
But Post 81 (0-8) got back in it, courtesy of some fielding blunders, pulling within 5-3 in the fifth inning. Liberty has played a couple of its best games against Post 45.
“The focus is a little better against these guys,” Post 81 manager Nate Cockman said.
Hill drilled a sixth-inning single that resulted in a run when Post 81 botched a relay. Coggins also had two hits.
Liberty pitcher Luke Johnson nearly escaped more damage after Post 45 had runners at second and third base with one out. But pinch hitter Sam Gore delivered a two-out, two run single with the bases loaded.
Post 81 loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh and didn’t score.
Bryson Marley took the loss. Eli Holland had a double and scored a run for Liberty.
This was the second of two non-league games between the teams, who’ll meet in divisional games later this season.
Other results
Randolph County edged Kannapolis Post 115 by 4-3 at home on sixth-inning sacrifice flies from Braxton Walker and Brody Little on Friday night. Sean Jennison pitched sixth innings for the victory.
Liberty was a no-hit victim in dropping a 10-0 road decision to Rowan County Post 342 on Saturday night.
