Smoky Mountain overpowers Brevard in conference action

Six players had multi-hit games for the Mustangs. Justin Hawk was four of four with three RBIs. Trent Dillard went four of five with a home run and four RBIs. Josh Carnes was three of four, and Jake Lunnen was three of five as each had a double and home run and two RBIs. Justin Ray and Joseph Ensley both went two of four.

"Our hitting didn't come from just two or three spots," Coach Tim Hawkins said. "Every starter had at least one hit."

The Blue Devils scored a run in the first on George Alexander's RBI single following a two-out error. It was one of seven errors the Mustangs made on the day.

SM took the lead for good in the bottom of the first when Hawk singled ahead of Dillard's homer. Hawk's two-run double and Lunnen's homer with a man on base put the Mustangs ahead 6-1 in the second.

Three errors opened the door for the Devils to score four times in the third cutting the gap to 6-5. Alexander started the frame with a double, and Seth Hall had a two-run single.

In the SM fourth, Hawk singled and Lunnen doubled before Dillard delivered a two-run single for an 8-5 advantage.

A double by Carnes and single by Ray made it 9-5 in the fifth.

The Devils rallied with three runs in the sixth knocking Mustang starter Landon Farley (3-0) from the box. Two walks followed by Dane Owen's RBI single narrowed the deficit to 9-6. Jason Leopard had an RBI double, and Shane Green came through with a run-scoring single making it 9-8.

The Mustangs picked up four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ensley singled, and Matt Hopkins had an RBI double. Carnes belted a two-run homer for a 12-8 lead. The final run came as Israel Vargas singled, advanced on an error and scored on Hawk's single.

Only two of the runs surrendered by Farley were earned. He allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out six.

"I was real proud of Landon," Hawkins said. "He's filled in a big hole in our staff and is doing a great job for us."

Lunnen relieved Farley in the sixth and picked up the save.

Jonah All was the losing pitcher.

Hawkins said he was pleased that a number of SM's hits came off Brevard's top pitcher, Bruce Hollingsworth.

The Mustang JVs traveled to Brevard and rolled to a 17-3 win in five innings. They scored 13 runs in the first two frames.

Brody Frizzell led the hit parade by going four of four with two triples and a double. Brody Crawford was three of three with a double. Jared Day went three of five with a double. Travis Stephenson was two of three with a double, and Ollin Dunford was two of three. Robin Sharrett was two of four with a double and triple, and Ben Robinson was two of four with a double.

Stephenson pitched the first three innings and gave up two earned runs. David White threw two scoreless frames. Coach Bill Rice said they both pitched well.

The JVs dropped a 9-2 decision the next day at West Henderson. SM led 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, but walks and errors allowed the Falcons to come back. They scored four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth.

Day was the losing pitcher. He allowed six hits and six walks while striking out six.

Robinson and Chad Watson both had two hits in three at-bats.

Rice said defensive problems allowed West to take control.

Back to Sports: 04/05/01.