MOCKSVILLE — Patrick Usher singled on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday night in Mocksville to lead Mocksville-Davie to a 5-4 triumph over Eastern Randolph in Area III American Legion baseball action.
The Usher single to right plated Joey Szvetitz, who had walked with one out and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Eastern Randolph plated a run in the opening inning of the contest, Christopher Morgan was hit by a pitch, Camden Fuquay walked, and Morgan scored on an RBI-ground out from Murphy. Mason Canoy later singled in the frame but two runners were stranded.
A Joe Johnson two-run homer to left coupled with singles from Szvetitz and Spencer Claus led to three runs in the bottom of the first for Post 54 who went up 3-1.
Post 81 threatened for a big inning in the third when Fuquay singled, Murphy walked, and Samuel Murchison singled to load the bases. After a Canoy sacrifice fly pulled Eastern Randolph within 3-2, Nate Canter walked to load the bases, only to see Post 54 hurler Jalen Austin to get a fly out and strike out to end the threat.
Mocksville-Davie responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to go back in front 4-2 when Nick Ward was hit by a pitch and Usher belted a double which was misplayed, allowing Ward to score.
Connor Murphy drove a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to lead off the fifth for ER to close the deficit to 4-3 before singles by Morgan and Fuquay led to a run in the sixth to tie the game up at 4-4.
This set up the walk-off by Johnson in the ninth as a Post 54 took the 5-4 win.
Fuquay worked 7 innings and allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and one walk while fanning eight in the outing while Kevin Cano suffered the loss after hurling 1.2 innings and yielding one hit, one run, two walks and fanning two.
Fuquay led Eastern Randolph at the plate with a 2-for-4 outing that included a run, an RBI, and a walk while Murphy was 1-for03 with a run, two RBI, two walks and a homer, Morgan 1-for-4 with two runs, Canoy 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Edmondson 1-for-4.
Usher went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a double to lead Mocksville-Davie offensively while Johnson was 1-for-4 with a run, a homer and two RBI. Usher also picked up the win on the mound after working 3 innings and allowing two hits, an unearned run, no walks and whiffing five.