DURHAM — The Northwood baseball team opened the 2020 season with a pair of 3A Big Eight Conference wins over Northern Durham.
In Durham on Friday, Northwood (2-0, 2-0) scored a run in the sixth to top Northern Durham 9-8.
The Chargers fell behind 1-0 early before countering with five runs in the top of the second, only to see the Knights cut the lead to 5-2 in the home half of the frame.
After the teams traded three spots in the fourth, Northern Durham evened the scored at 8-all with a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Northwood pounded out 10 hits in the win led by Glenn Lassister going 3-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a double while Quinn Powell was 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, a double and a walk, and Tyler Johnson 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a triple.
Also adding to the Chargers hit parade were Beau Weathers going 1-for-3 with a run, Luke Popp 1-for-3 with a run, two RBI and a sacrifice fly, Dylan Hitt 1-for- 5 with a run and an RBI.
Mason Bae also scored a run, stole a base and collected an RBI in the win while Zach Barnes scored a run.
Barnes, a freshman, earned the win on the mound after working three innings and yielding two hits, three runs (none earned), no walks, and striking out two. Popp also went three innings and allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), four walks and whiffed fourwhile Gray Windsor went an inning and surrendered a hit, two runs (one earned), and two walks.
Northern Durham was paced at the plate by Riley Adams who went 1-for-4 with two RBI while Jacob Walker was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI, Matthew Lombard 1-for-4 with two runs, Cody McDowell 1-for-1 with a run and a walk, and Colin Scoggins 2-for-4 with a run.
Jackson Bishop suffered the loss on the mound after working three innings for the Knights and allowing six hits, eight runs (five earned), four walks and striking out five.
On Wednesday afternoon in Pittsboro, sophomore Nick Lovingood came in and went three innings to get the win after a masterful four innings from Northwood ace Tyler Johnson.
Lovingood allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out three to complete the shutout with Johnson, who gave up just two hits and a walk and struck out five in four innings on the mound.
The Charger tandem keep the Knights at bay the entire day at the plate to set the stage for a pair of Northwood runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by Hitt and Powell scratching out hits and later scoring on a clutch two-run single from Landon Johnson. The Johnson heroics provided the Chargers with all the run support they would need on this day.
Landon Johnson, Powell, and Hitt were all 1-for-3 in the Northwood win.
Louis Berini was 2-for-3 for Northern Durham while Greene, Adams and Freddy Oliver were each 1-for-3.
Lombard was credited with the loss for the Knights. He worked 5 1/3 strong innings and yielded three hits, two earned runs and a walk while fanning 12.