Third-inning offensive explosion sparks Aycock
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 21, 2015 1:48 PM
PIKEVILLE -- Mookie Powell in the lead-off spot and Connor Vinson in the No. 2 hole gives Charles B. Aycock teammate Allison Shingleton plenty of confidence when she digs into the batter's box.
"I feel like it's almost a guarantee that there's at least one (Powell or Vinson) who is going to be on (base), so I at least try to get them around do my job for the team," Shingleton said.
The sophomore's third-inning sacrifice fly, which scored Powell, ignited a nine-inning outburst that completely deflated New Bern's spirits on an overcast and breezy Monday evening. Powell, Vinson and Shingleton combined for seven hits and five RBI in the Golden Falcons' 15-2, mercy-rule shellacking of the Bears in their Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference encounter.
"It was like a chain reaction," said Shingleton.
But it was an offensive explosion that may have never occurred.
New Bern (8-6 overall, 3-4 ECC) put seven runners aboard during the first two innings. Aycock left-hander Allie Phillips escaped trouble with a inning-ending groundout in the first, and a bases-loaded strikeout in the second.
The sophomore's demeanor quickly changed, however.
Aycock sophomore Keeley Fulghum deposited a one-strike fastball over the center-field fence -- her second homer of the season and ninth overall in her career.
The Bears turned an inning-ending double play, but Shingleton returned to the mound with a new sense of confidence. The returning starter began to hit her spots, change speeds on occasion and retired seven of nine batters she faced in a two-plus inning stretch.
"The first two innings, I struggled a little bit," said Phillips, who held the Bears to two hits during a 90-pitch outing.
"I just thought tonight to myself, it's not going to bother me because they're (my defense) behind my back no matter what. Keeley's home run pumped me up, told me I could do this."
Powell legged out a lead-off single to start the CBA third and drew an errant throw on the play. Vinson doubled and Shingleton followed with the sac fly.
A total of 13 batters and nine runs later, Aycock had all but sealed its fourth victory over the Bears -- including three by the mercy rule.
"It was like a chain reaction," Shingleton said.
Interim CBA head coach LaVon Matthews substituted freely throughout the fourth inning. A total of 15 Golden Falcons got at least one plate appearance.
Fulghum (two RBI) and Madison Walton contributed two hits apiece. Hannah Vinson (two RBI), Hannah Carter (RBI), Mackenzie Wheeler (RBI), catcher Abbie Walton (RBI) and Taylor Puetz (RBI) each had one hit.