Jordan-Matthews downs Wheatmore in key 2A PAC 7 Conference clash

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SILER CITY — While Jordan-Matthews’ pitchers struggled to keep runners off the bases, issuing a total of 10 walks, Wheatmore struggled even more trying to bring them home, leaving the sacks loaded in four different innings, and the result was a 3-1 PAC 7 2A Conference victory for the Jets Wednesday evening on Jimmy Warfford Field.

Raising its all-time record against the Warriors to 3-1 with its third straight triumph in their series, J-M improved to 6-3 in the league standings and 9-6 for the year, while Wheatmore fell to 4-5 in the conference and 5-9 overall.

Camden Fuquay started on the hill for Jordan-Matthews and tossed four and one-third scoreless innings to get credit for the win, giving up two hits while walking six and fanning eight.

Jets’ reliever Luke Hinshaw threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing no hits and one earned run in addition to issuing three free passes and striking out two before Kevin Cano relieved Hinshaw and walked the one batter he faced.

Samuel Murchison was then summoned to the mound and pitched scoreless balls over the final two frames to pick up a save, yielding one hit while whiffing five.

“We didn’t pitch all that well tonight, but it was well enough to get a victory,” said J-M coach John Will Headen. It feels good to win a sloppy game because we needed this one to stay in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. We started out hot at the plate with a couple of big two-out hits in the bottom of the first that produced a pair of runs, then relied on pitching to hold onto the lead the rest of the way.”

Warriors’ starting pitcher Gabe Hernandez went two innings and absorbed the loss after surrendering five hits and a pair of earned runs.

Nick Halo hurled four innings in relief for the visitors and gave up one hit plus an earned run besides issuing three walks and fanning four.

“We had plenty of opportunities to score, but struck out six times with the bases loaded,” noted Wheatmore coach Jon Spell. Credit Jordan-Matthews for coming up with timely hits and playing solid defense, but we need to put balls in play with people in scoring position. We kept waiting for one big swing on a number of occasions that could have had a huge impact on the outcome.”

The Jets seized a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first as Chris Morgan led off the frame with an infield single and advanced to second on a groundout.

Cano’s two-out double to center plated courtesy runner Aaron Black prior to Fuquay helping his own cause by driving in Cano with a base hit to left.

J-M increased its lead to 3-0 in the home third as Murchison stroked a leadoff double to the left field fence, moved to third on a wild pitch and tallied on a groundout by Fuquay.

The Warriors registered their lone run in the top of the sixth when they loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive walks to Rylan Smith, Travis Hurt and Zack Crites.

After Smith was thrown out at home as Hernandez reached on a fielder’s choice, Connor Cox brought in courtesy runner Ryan Green with an infield single to deep short.

But Murchison avoided any further damage by slipping a called third strike by both Hunter Smith and Halo to end the inning prior to fanning the side in the visitors’ seventh to secure the win.