Baseball -- ND comes up just short

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 6, 2004 1:57 PM

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HOLLY RIDGE -- Trailing 8-3, North Duplin put together a four-run rally in the top of the seventh before Holly Ridge Dixon tossed out the tying run at the plate trying to score and held on for an 8-7 win in non-conference action on Monday.

The Rebels' Daniel Howell singled, scoring Tim Evans, who was hit by a pitch to start the rally.

Will Evans followed with a walk to load the bases before Ryan Smith smacked a triple into the left-field corner, scoring two runs before the potential tying run was cut down at the plate by a perfect relay throw.

"It had to be a perfect throw to the relay, good catch and relay to the catcher, a catch and tag," North Duplin coach Rob Futch said. "That's what happened. In 1-A high school baseball you have to make people get you out.

"This time they did."

North Duplin struggled defensively through the game, committing seven errors.

Smith, Matt Braswell and Ryan Tillman had two hits each for North Duplin, who hosts Dixon on Thursday. Evans scored three runs.

Braswell got the loss for the Rebels in 11Ú3 inning of relief.

North Duplin 102 000 4 -- 7 12 7

Dixon 310 112 x -- 8 12 4

Leading hitters -- North Duplin -- Tim Evans 1-1, 3 runs; Matt Braswell 2-4, run; Ryan Tillman 2-3, run; Ryan Smith 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI. Dixon -- Andryshack 3-3, 2 runs; Edens 3-4, 2 runs, Binkley 2-4, 2 runs, HR.

North Duplin

IP R ER H BB SO

Rock Bennett 1 4 0 5 1 1

Sterling Grice 32Ú3 2 0 4 2 7

Matt Braswell (L, 1-2) 11Ú3 2 2 3 0 1