Rogers, Lumberkings club Coyotes 12-1

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RAMSEUR — Dusty Rogers’ grand slam walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth put the finishing touch on the Randolph Lumberkings’ five-inning 12-1 rout of the Carolina Coyotes in Old North State League diamond action Wednesday night at I. Fletcher Craven Stadium.

The runaway triumph lifted league-leading Randolph to 10-3 for the season, while Carolina stumbled to 7-8.

Lumberkings’ leadoff batter Nate Vargo went four-for-four at the plate with four RBIs while Rogers went three-for-three, adding a pair of singles to go along with his second round-tripper of the year that accounted for four RBIs, to lead Randolph’s 10-hit offensive attack against three Coyotes’ pitchers.

Max Little hurled the distance on the mound for the victors to gain the win, scattering seven hits while yielding one unearned run in addition to walking two and whiffing one. The right-hander threw a total of 57 pitches, including 40 (70 percent) for strikes.

“We’ve been pressing the last couple of weeks, but this was easily our best offensive output since week one as this was a complete-game effort,” said Lumberkings’ coach Brandon Nelson. “All three major factors – pitching, hitting and defense – were in our favor tonight. Little had a great outing while making his first start, allowing one unearned run, our hitting was solid up-and-down the lineup, and we only committed one mistake in the field.”

Southpaw Caleb Staley opened on the hill for the Coyotes and absorbed the loss, surrendering seven hits and five runs (one earned) while walking three and striking out three over three and two-third innings.

Darden Eure pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief and was tagged for two hits and six earned runs besides issuing four free passes and whiffing one before Tyson Measamer came on to throw two pitches while giving up Rogers’ game-winning homer.

“We just ran out of pitching this evening and hurt ourselves with some costly mental mistakes,” said Carolina coach Riley Nelson. “I thought we made good contact at the plate but couldn’t string hits together, while Randolph had good approaches and fouled off a lot of pitches while waiting for something they could smash.”

The Coyotes grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second as Eure led off with a bunt single and continued to third on a throwing error before coming in to score on Jordan Blalock’s groundout.

But the Lumberkings were quick to answer, plating three runs in the bottom of the second to seize the lead for good.

Claytin Beaver doubled to the left field fence with one away and held his position when Andre Macedo’s fly ball to left was dropped.

Following a walk to Justin St. Amour that loaded the bases, Vargo lined a two-out opposite-field single to right to drive in Beaver and Macedo while St. Amour continued home on an overthrow to the plate from the outfield.

Randolph increased its advantage to 5-1 in the home fourth as Vargo led off the frame with an opposite-field base hit to right and stole both second and third prior to scoring when Brett Stenlund tripled up the alley in right-center with two away before the latter tallied on a passed ball.

The Lumberkings then put the contest away by plating seven runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Following a free pass issued to Macedo, a single to left by St. Amour and a walk to Jacob Thomas that filled the sacks with no outs, Vargo notched a two-run base hit to left prior to moving to second when Nick Roets was hit by a pitch.

One-out later Stenlund coaxed a full-count walk to force in Thomas, and two pitches later Rogers launched a mammoth shot over the left field fence to bring the game to a close.