By Mike Williams

Analyst

ROCKY MOUNT – Faith Christian School, coming off a disappointing loss to Wayne Country Day on Tuesday uprighted the ship as they scored an impressive 7-2 decision over Northeast Academy here Friday.

The Patriots held a 2-0 lead on the Chargers on Tuesday going into the bottom of the seventh inning before Cole Davis cracked a three run, two out  walkoff homer.

Faith Christian’s win on Friday avenged an earlier 3-2 loss in eight innings to the Eagles back on March 16.

Three Patriot pitchers, starter Brandon Sanderford along with Luke Cockrell and Luke Roberson combined to limit the normally potent Northeast bats to a measly two hits on the night. The Patriots could manage but six hits of their own but all were timely and all contributed to the final outcome.

Northeast drew first blood in the top of the first inning when the Patriot first baseman could not find the handle on Ryan William’ sharp grounder allowing him to reach first. Williams attempted to steal second and when the FCS catcher’s throw hit him and caromed into left center, Williams was able to circle the bases for the game’s first run.

However, Faith Christian answered with three tallies of their own in the bottom of the frame.

Christian Davis led off with a walk off Northeast starting pitcher Ryan Williams and promptly stole second. Two outs later, Brandon Sanderford sliced a single to left center to score Davis and knot the score at one all. Cody Manning followed with a double to deep right center chasing home courtesy runner Harrison Mosley and giving FCS the lead for keeps. Manning later took third on a passed ball and raced home on a wild pitch staking the Patriots to a 3-1 advantage .

Northeast mounted a threat in the third frame as Justin Williford, Ryan Williams and Logan Simonowich all drew walks to load the bases with one out. But Sanderford rose to the challenge getting Clay Robbins to bounce into a force play at the plate and then striking out cleanup hitter Willie Rose.

In the Patriots half of the inning they all but put the contest away with another three run outburst.

Aaron Lancaster blooped a single to right and Christian Roupp reached first when the Eagle right fielder could not come up with his fly ball. One out later, Cody Manning walked to load the bases. Luke Roberson’s sacrifice bunt plated one run and Luke Mills followed with a basehit to right center scoring Roupp and Manning as the Patriots extended their lead to 6-1.

Faith Christian added an insurance run in the fifth on Luke Cockrell’s single, a double by Roupp and Sanderford’s sacrifice fly. Northeast put a late run on the board in the sixth as Benton Barrett reached second on a two out throwing error by the Patriot shortstop and raced home on Justin Williford’s double to right center.

As aforementioned Faith Christian pitchers Brandon Sanderford, Luke Cockrell and Luke Roberson limited the Eagles to only two hits in the win in an admirable pitching outing with Sanderford grabbing the win.

Ryan Williams took the loss for Northeast with relief help from Will Glover. Offensively no one for Faith Christian had more than one hit with Chase Roupp and Cody Manning having doubles to lead the way. Justin Williford collected both of the Northeast hits including a double.

Northeast drops to 10-4 and now awaits the TIC tournament which starts on Tuesday.