BEAR CREEK — A two-out throwing error opened the door for Union Pines to tally three unearned runs in the top of the fourth, while Alex Mauldin outdueled Chatham Central’s Michael Moore on the mound in a complete-game outing by both pitchers, as the Vikings captured a rain-shortened five-inning 4-1 victory Monday afternoon on Ronald Scott Field.
Completing a sweep of its non-conference season series with the Bears, Union Pines climbed to 7-3 overall, while Chatham Central stumbled to 3-5 for the year.
In gaining the win, Mauldin allowed four hits and an earned run in addition to walking four and fanning three.
Moore suffered the loss after surrendering six hits and four runs (one earned) while issuing two free passes and striking out a pair.
“Alex did a good job on the mound, throwing strikes and letting the defense work behind him,” said Vikings’ coach Eric Marion.
“Offensively we finally quit hitting balls in the air and took advantage of stolen bases to get people in scoring position before punching a few run-producing hits on the ground.”
Bears’ coach Brett Walden remarked all it took was one mistake for Union Pines to extend the fourth inning and give Mauldin all the offensive support he needed.
“If we make a good throw for the third out of the inning they don’t get three of their four runs,” noted Walden.
“As efficient as Michael was on the mound this was a winnable game. But we stranded a pair of runners in three different innings and left the bases loaded in the fifth when we couldn’t get a timely hit.”
The Vikings forged a 3-0 lead in the visitors’ fourth as Jack Lange singled to right-center with one away, stole second and came in to score when Tanner Freeland reached on a two-out throwing error.
After Freeland moved to second on a wild pitch, Grant Booker brought the runner home by grounding a base hit to center.
Booker then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Gray Culler grounded a single to left.
Chatham Central notched a solo run in its half of the fourth as Carter Fuquay drew a leadoff walk on four pitches, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a groundout before scoring on Zach Ritter’s base hit down the right field line.
Union Pines tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth as Logan Finchum coaxed a leadoff base on balls, stole second and moved to third on a groundout prior to tallying on Mauldin’s infield single.
The Bears threatened to add to their total in the home fifth as they loaded the bases when Tyson Measamer reached on a fielder’s choice and one out later Fuquay received a free pass before Holden Johnson was plunked with a pitch.
But Mauldin managed to work his way out of the jam by getting Drew Cox to foul out to the catcher to end the inning, at which time the game was called due to deteriorating field conditions caused by off-and-on rain showers.