Baseball -- Lancaster shines for Eastern Wayne

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 18, 2004 1:57 PM

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MOREHEAD CITY -- Jesse Lancaster went the distance and assisted on a game-clinching double play as Eastern Wayne clipped West Carteret 6-4 in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference action Wednesday afternoon.

Lancaster scattered five hits and notched 11 strikeouts en route to his first mound win in three starts. He started off the seventh by hitting the Patriots' Drew Paulk, and then forced a groundout which led to a double play.

"He pitched well yesterday and we had a couple of miscues, but we had some big plays," Warriors coach Jabo Fulghum said. "We played hard. I was proud of the kids because we battled."

Eastern Wayne led 5-1 until a tough call turned the momentum in the Patriots' favor in the sixth inning. Fulghum didn't expand on the call, but said his team could have folded at that point and didn't.

The Warriors collected an insurance run in the seventh to give Lancaster (1-1) a little breathing room. Lancaster allowed four runs (two earned) and walked four.

At the plate, Lancaster batted 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Airlon Vinson and Tyler Mitchell each provided an RBI.

Clayton Pittman led the Patriots with two hits, including a triple. Paulk ripped a triple in two plate appearances.

"That's a tough place to win," Fulghum said. "That was a good win for our kids."

Eastern Wayne (3-3, 2-1 ECC) travels to West Craven on Friday.

E. Wayne 101 120 1 -- 6 8 2

W. Carteret 010 003 0 -- 4 5 2

Leading hitters -- Eastern Wayne -- Jesse Lancaster 4-4, 2B, RBI; Airlon Vinson 1-4, RBI; Tyler Mitchell 1-2, RBI. West Carteret -- Drew Paulk 1-2, 3B; Clayton Pittman 2-3, 3B.

IP H R ER BB SO

Eastern Wayne

Lancaster (W, 1-1) 7 5 4 2 4 11

West Carteret

Chisenhall (L) 4 5 3 4 2 2

Pittman 2 2/3 3 2 0 1 3

Paulk 1/3 0 0 0 0 1