By Willie McLawhorn

Sports Writer

AHOSKIE — A close pitchers’ duel became a blowout as the Northeast Eagles exploded for 12 runs over the last three innings to take a 13-2 six inning victory over the Rams of Ridgecroft here Monday afternoon.

The scoring began as the Eagles’ Davis Harrell blasted a first inning homerun over the 328-foot sign in left center.

The Rams came back scoring a run in the bottom of the inning on a Nathan Pearce RBI-single following walks to Tyler Jones and Austin Britton.

The next two innings saw both starting pitchers – Will Glover for the Eagles and Woody Lowe for the Rams – settle in with both pitchers getting out of mild jams.

The top of the fourth inning saw the Eagle bats come to life with some timely hitting as they scored five runs after two outs.

James Pope got the inning started with a sharp single to center. A stolen base and a balk had Pope on third with no one out.

Walks to Brad Johnson and Glover sandwiched around a strike out left the bases loaded with one out.

The Rams had an opportunity to get out of the inning as a fielder’s choice to the third baseman resulted in Pope’s being thrown out at home.

But a two out, two RBI-single by Ryan Williams followed by a two-RBI triple to center by Clay Robbins, who later scored on a wild pitch, gave the Eagles a 6-1 lead which they would not relinquish.

The top of the fifth frame saw the Eagles add to their lead as they scored three more runs.

Brad Johnson started the Eagles off with a one out single which was followed by a long homerun by pinch hitter Blake Simoniwich.

A two-out double by Harrell, followed by an RBI-single by Williams accounted for the third run of the inning as the Eagles took a 9-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

The bottom of the fifth saw the Rams score their final run as Lowe singled and with two outs, three successive walks led to a Rams score.

The top of the sixth inning saw the Eagles score four more times with two outs.

Austin Bryant led off with a walk followed by two outs. A Johnson double was followed by a RBI-single by Simoniwich. Four successive walks led to three more runs as the Eagles closed out the scoring leaving the field with their fifth Tarheel Independent Conference victory.

The pitching victory went to Glover who combined with Bryant to limit the young Rams to two runs and four hits. Williams led the Eagles with four RBI’s along with three RBI’s each from Robbins and Simoniwich.

Leading the Rams at the plate was Pearce who had a two hit, one RBI game.