Porcupines win back-and-forth thriller as playoff race heats up

Pineville Porcupines UTL, Lucas Delacruz (#14)

The Pineville Porcupines entered Friday’s matchup against the Queen City Corndogs having won five of their last six games, including two mercy rule victories against the Harbor Hippos and Hollers.

Although Friday’s game wasn’t as one-sided, it was still a high-scoring affair between both teams. After facing a 3-0 deficit after the top of the first inning, the Porcupines came roaring back in the bottom of the first on a 2-RBI double by shortstop Lucas Delacruz, his third extra base hit in his last two games.

Then, in the bottom of the second frame, it was Connor Ritchie who got in on the action, sending a 3-RBI triple to the opposite field to clear the bases loaded and take a 6-3 lead.

From there, the Corndogs eventually chased starter Tucker Gandy from the mound, making it a 6-6 game, before Calvin Douglas came in to strike out three of the first four batters he faced, stranding a runner on third base.

Pineville Porcupines INF/C Connor Ritchie (#1)

Pineville then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI groundout from Cohen Bettencourt before Queen City second baseman Tim Hitchcock tied things up again at seven apiece with a solo home run off of Porcupines reliever Julius Sellars.

However, Delacruz had the answer once again in the bottom of the seventh, plating a run on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7. It’d stay that way until the end of the game as Landon Finley and Zachary Gaydos combined for two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the hold and the save.

Connor Ritchie was named the player of the game with 3 RBIs and a 2-for-3 performance. In addition to Ritchie, Delacruz drove in three runs as well, while center fielder Michael Rogers went 2-for-3 with a double, a single and a stolen base.

Looking ahead, Pineville has one regular season contest remaining before the playoffs, a Saturday game against the Lexington Flying Pigs.