Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. Class A No. 3 Man scored nine runs in the opening frame and never looked back in a 17-6 five-inning win over Class AAA Princeton Wednesday in Mingo Bay Classic at St. James, South Carolina High School.
The win moved the Hillbillies to 1-1 in pool play and 12-5 overall while Princeton fell to 0-1 in pool play and 5-11 overall.
Caleb Vance had three hits and drove in four runs while Jace Adkins had a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in three runs for Man.
Colton Miller had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs while Braxton Messer had a double, scored two runs and had three RBIs and Preston Blankenship had two hits, including a double and two RBIs for the Hillbillies, who collected 17 hits in the victory.
Caleb Blevins had a hit for the Hillbillies and Drake Veres crossed the plate three times and had one RBI.
Man chased Princeton starter Lucas Monghan in the first inning. The sophomore allowed nine runs on five hits, walked five and struck out in just 1/3 inning as Man plated nine runs in the first.
The Hillbillies led 11-1 after two innings, but Princeton would answer with four runs in the top of the third inning to cut the Hillbillies lead to 11-5; before Man answered with six runs in the bottom of the third to lead 17-5 after three.
Brock Halsey had a double and two RBIs to lead Princeton at the plate. Ethan Hendrick, Jonathan Higginbottom each had one hit and one RBI while Monaghan had one hit, scored two runs and drove in one for the Tigers.
Jordan Bailey had two hits including a double and a run scored while Grant Cochran and Ethan Nelson had one hit each and scored a run and Brandon Clay had one hit for Princeton.
Monaghan suffered the loss for Princeton, who used three pitchers in the contest. Dustin Brewster allowed six runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Brewster struck out three out but walked seven and hit a batter. Eli Sampson allowed two runs on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Bo Thompson improved his record to 6-0 on the season. Thompson, one of four pitchers used by the Hillbillies, allowed four unearned runs on two hits while striking out five and walking two in 2 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Blankenship pitched one inning of relief allowing an unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts. Veres allowed three hits in 2/3 innings and Blevins allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk in one inning of work.