ELIZABETHTOWN — The Eagles worked to rally from an early 3-0 deficit, then got a huge play late from Greyson Heustess that sealed a 7-6 win over visiting Red Springs on Thursday in a Three Rivers Conference game.
East Bladen improved to 7-9 overall, 4-7 in the conference with the win.
The Red Devils plated a pair of runs in the top of the first, then added a run in the second to build a 3-0 edge. But the Eagles started their comeback with a pair of runs in the home half of the second behind an RBI single by Pierce Melvin and a fielder’s choice RBI from Freddie Wooten.
In the third, the Eagles scored twice on an RBI double by Gabe Barber and run-scoring single by Shy Pone for a 4-3 lead.
Heustess opened the Eagles’ fifth with a single and scampered home on two Red Springs errors for a 5-3 East Bladen lead. But the Red Devils got the run back in the top of the sixth to close within 5-4.
East Bladen responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth behind a double from Zach Meares, RBI single from Heustess and RBI single by Xavier Wooten.
Red Springs tried to rally in the seventh with a pair of runs — and had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but a fly ball to Heutess in center was the second out and Heustess pegged a laser home to get the runner tagging up and end the game.
Melvin earned the win on the hill for East Bladen, working six-plus innings and giving up five hits, four walks and striking out 10. Freddie Wooten finished up to earn the save.
The Eagles had 13 hits, led by Heustess who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Melvin was 2-for-3 with an RBI; Barber was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI; Xavier Wooten was 2-for-4 with an RBI; and Meares had a double.
East Bladen will be on the road Tuesday for a 7 p.m. conference game at West Columbus.