The Lafayette Rams are one step closer to their 2nd straight State championship after coming from behind to defeat Great Bridge 3-2. Mitch Barrick 2-run single in the 7th providing the winning run and pitcher Andre Lipcius threw a complete game for the Rams.
Lafayette trailed 2-1 entering the 7th inning and facing great Bridge ace Michael Bienlien who committed to play baseball at North Carolina State. Bienlien had allowed only two hits thru six innings but he plucked leadoff hitter John Keane in the back and he allowed a double to the left field fence to Chase Bauer to put the winning run on 2nd base with no out.
Barrick then drilled an 0-2 pitched just past the second base bag scoring both Keane and Bauer for a 3-2 lead.
Lipcius had a perfect 1-2-3 seventh to earn the win. He did not allow an earned run and he finished with four strikeouts, three walks while giving up only three hits.
Great Bridge trailed for most of the game before scoring two unearned runs in the 4th inning with the help of a peculiar call on 3rd strike. Dalton Jackson reached 1st on a dropped 3rd strike after what appeared to be a stoppage of play from the home plate umpire. The next batter, Noah Mason was safe at 1st base on a sacrifice bunt attempt and both Jackson and Andrew Harman scored when the ball that ricochet back into the infield. Burghie Miller followed with a single but Lipcius prevented anymore damage by forcing a double play.
Lafayette trailed 2-1 entering the 7th inning and facing great Bridge ace Michael Bienlien who committed to play baseball at North Carolina State. Bienlien had allowed only two hits thru six innings but he plucked leadoff hitter John Keane in the back and he allowed a double to the left field fence to Chase Bauer to put the winning run on 2nd base with no out.
Barrick then drilled an 0-2 pitched just past the second base bag scoring both Keane and Bauer for a 3-2 lead.
Lipcius had a perfect 1-2-3 seventh to earn the win. He did not allow an earned run and he finished with four strikeouts, three walks while giving up only three hits.
Great Bridge trailed for most of the game before scoring two unearned runs in the 4th inning with the help of a peculiar call on 3rd strike. Dalton Jackson reached 1st on a dropped 3rd strike after what appeared to be a stoppage of play from the home plate umpire. The next batter, Noah Mason was safe at 1st base on a sacrifice bunt attempt and both Jackson and Andrew Harman scored when the ball that ricochet back into the infield. Burghie Miller followed with a single but Lipcius prevented anymore damage by forcing a double play.
