RAMSEUR — The Randolph Lumberkings pushed across a pair of unearned runs with two away in the bottom of the sixth to snap a 1-1 stalemate before holding off Old North State League rival Carolina in the top of the seventh to slip past the Coyotes 3-1 Thursday night at I. Fletcher Craven Stadium.
League-leading Randolph climbed to 7-2 for the season, while Carolina dipped to 5-5.
Lumberkings’ starter Tyler Bryant pitched six innings to get the win, allowing six hits and one unearned run while walking two and fanning 10.
Randolph reliever Keati Buchanan tossed one inning in relief and picked up a save after yielding one hit besides issuing one free pass and whiffing one.
“We did some things right and some wrong tonight, but a win is a win and I’ll take it,” said Lumberkings’ coach Brandon Nelson.
“Tyler gave everything he had on the hill and threw six strong innings, striking out 10, before Keati did a good job in relief, locking in when Carolina threatened its final turn at bat.”
Southpaw Caleb Staley opened on the mound for the Coyotes and hurled five innings, surrendering three hits plus an earned run in addition to walking a pair and striking out four.
Vinny Consolo came on to throw one inning in relief and was tagged with the loss after giving up one hit along with two unearned runs while issuing two walks and hitting one batter.
“Caleb did a good job staying around the strike zone and gave us a chance to win, but at the plate we watched too many fast balls early in the count,” remarked interim Carolina coach Alec Allred.
“While our pitching and defense were pretty good this evening, it came down to we couldn’t string hits together when we had opportunities to score.”
Randolph broke up a scoreless pitching duel in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead as Nick Roets coaxed a full-count walk with one away and went to second when Cyrus Grimes was hit by a pitch.
One out later Dusty Rogers belted a double to left to drive in Roets.
The Coyotes responded by pulling even in the top of the fifth as Darden Eure beat a throw to first on a one-out botched strikeout and came in to score when Cort Maynard slammed a double to center.
But the Lumberkings managed to rally in the home sixth to seize the advantage as Brett Stenlund drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second when Rogers reached on an infield error.
Two outs later Justin St. Amour scratched an infield hit to load the bases before Consolo plunked Kyle Ehlers with a pitch to force in Stenlund, and Randolph picked up an insurance run when Nate Vargo walked on four pitches to bring in Rogers.
Carolina attempted a comeback with two away in the visitors’ seventh as Maynard received a full-count free pass and went to second when Chase Hetzel singled up the gap in left-center.
However, with the tying run on first, Consolo lined a shot right back to the mound that was snagged by Buchanan for the final out to preserve the victory.