Muddogs run-rule Whitetails 11-0

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RAMSEUR — The Deep River pitching triumvirate of Nathan Cockman, Mike Williams and Ryan Hill combined to toss a two-hit shutout, while Cade Culberson and Jordan Cassell collectively went six-for-seven at the plate and drove in eight runs between them, as the Muddogs run-ruled the Piedmont Whitetails 11-0 in six innings in Old North State League action July 22 at I. Fletcher Craven Stadium.

With one game left in the regular season, Deep River improved to 14-11-1, while last-place Piedmont dropped to 7-19.

Cockman opened on the mound for the Muddogs and allowed one hit in two innings of work before Williams came on to hurl three hitless frames and earn the win while issuing two free passes and fanning three.

Hill closed out the victory by throwing the final inning, giving up one hit in addition to whiffing two.

“We came out fired up and focused tonight, with hits coming early and often,” remarked Deep River coach Michael Milian. “We wanted to give several of our pitchers some work this evening before the playoffs later this week, and they all did a good job filling the zone and throwing strikes.”

Whitetails’ starter and loser Will White went four-plus innings on the hill and was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven hits and nine runs (seven earned) besides walking three and striking out five.

Reliever Hunter Collins tossed the last two frames and gave up three hits along with two unearned runs in addition to issuing one base on balls and fanning two,

“Deep River showed up to play and hit the ball well while we didn’t play defense behind our pitchers,” said Piedmont coach Christian Snider. “We had some hard hit balls but couldn’t get them to drop in for hits, while we only managed to advance two runners as far as second base.”

The Muddogs fashioned a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second as leadoff batter Easton Jones reached on a throwing error and moved to second on a passed ball prior to Hill receiving a full-count walk.

Culberson then blasted a two-run triple up the alley in right-center and scored when Cassell lofted a sacrifice to right.

Deep River picked up a solo run in the visitors’ fourth when Cassell stroked a double up the gap in left-center with one away and one-out later Rafy Ortega lined a run-scoring base hit up the middle.

The Muddogs increased their lead to 9-0 in the top of the fifth as leadoff batter Noah Handy reached on a throwing miscue and Clay Richardson followed by belting a 1-2 offering from White over the left field fence for his third round-tripper of the season.

Jones was then awarded first base on a catcher’s interference call and went to second on Hill’s infield single before both runners advanced a base on a throwing error.

Culberson proceeded to slap a two-run single to right, moved to second on a wild pitch and came in to score when Cassell smashed a double to left.

Deep River tallied its final two runs in the visitors’ sixth as Richardson led off the frame by reaching on a throwing error and went to second when Jones punched a base hit to left.

Richardson then advanced to third when Hill hit into a double play and scored on Culberson’s opposite-field single to left prior to Cassell driving in Culberson with his third double of the evening to left.