GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Mills Lothridge and Campbell Payton combined on a four-hitter to lead North Hall to a 5-2 win over Pace Academy on Tuesday at Lynn Cottrell Field.
Lothridge allowed two hits and one run over five innings, striking out six and walking zero to get the win for the Trojans (4-0). Payton surrendered two hits and a run pitching the final two innings. He fanned three.
However, the Knights (0-5) struck first in the opening frame scoring a run on a sacrifice fly. it stayed that way until the third.
North Hall plated all five runs in the bottom of the third, the big blow coming on a bases-clearing double from Charlie Wright after Knights' pitching hit three batters. Lothridge finished off the inning with a two run double.
The Trojans had just five hits. Wright had two and Jon Read, Ajay Jones, and Lothridge all had one hit for North Hall.
The Trojans next will play host to Class 7A Mountain View on Wednesday.
FLOWERY BRANCH 4,
DECATUR 3
Kade Smallwood knocked in Austin Bourrie with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to give the Falcons a thrilling win at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Flowery Branch (4-1) led 2-0 after the first inning as Riley Mitchell smacked a solo home run to open the game and Smallwood followed two batters for a solo home run for the Falcons.
Decatur answered with three runs in the top of the second off starter Mason Compton, who went two innings allowing three hits but just one earned run. He fanned two. From there, Aaron Attaway (4IP, 4K’s, 1BB, 3H, 0ER) and Jackson Freeman (1IP, 1K, 0BB, 0H, 0ER) dominated with Freeman picking up the win.
Branch tied the game in the fifth on a RBI triple from Mitchell, scoring Bourrie. Ethan Mieldezis and Riley Bourrie also had one hit each for the Falcons.
LUMPKIN COUNTY 9,
TALLULAH FALLS 3
The Indians won their third straight game with a solid win on the road on Tuesday.
Lumpkin County (3-1) used a four-run fifth inning on just one hit to break open a close game. Leading 3-2, the Indians scored runs on a fielder's choice, passed ball, an error and a RBI single from Peyton Wood to extend the lead to 7-2.
After falling behind 2-0, Tallulah Falls (2-2) tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run from Frankey Moree.
Alejandro Narvaez got the win for Lumpkin County, allowing just two runs on three hits and striking out nine. Cooper Scott and Tyler Boggs pitched the final two innings in relief.
Caden Walker took the loss for Tallulah Falls giving up four runs on five hits and striking out seven.
Narvaez and Wood each had two hits but the Indians showed off their speed as five players stole at least two bases.
Moree had two hits for Tallulah Falls.
PINECREST ACADEMY 8,
LANIER CHRISTIAN 7
The Lightning dropped a heartbreaker in their season-opener on the road.
Senior Camden Hohman struck out 10 in five innings, giving up only three hits in the losing effort.
At the plate, senior Isaac Dinn had a perfect day going 3-for-3 with a walk. Sophomore Liam Howell scored 2 runs, and sophomore Joshua Waymack had a big pinch hit single in the final inning.
LCA plays Pinecrest again at home next week.
