FAIRMONT — East Bladen got off to a fast start Friday against Fairmont, but had to hang on to pull out a 12-10 Three Rivers Conference win.
The Eagles improved to 7-9 overall, 6-7 in the conference.
East Bladen erupted for eight runs in the top of the first, started by Sincere Smith getting hit by a pitch and coming all the way around on an error, stolen base and wild pitch. Xavier Wooten walked and came home on an RBI single from Brady Hollingsworth; Shy Pone singled and Pierce Melvin walked to fill the bases with Eagles just ahead of an error that scored two. Freddie Wooten smoked a two-run double and Smith laced a run-scoring single — then stole both third and home to give East Bladen an 8-0 advantage.
The Golden Tornadoes had plenty of wind left, though.
Fairmont plated seven runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to five walks, then added two more runs in the second to take a 9-8 lead.
After a scoreless third, the Eagles pushed across four runs in the top of the fourth behind an RBI triple by Smith, run-scoring double by Greyson Heustess, RBI triple by Xavier Wooten and a fielder’s choice RBI by Hollingsworth for a 12-9 lead.
Fairmont filled the bags in the bottom of the sixth, but could only secure a single run. The Tornadoes put runners at second and third with one out in the seventh, but harmless groundouts ended the game.
Freddie Wooten earned the win on the mound for East Bladen, hurling the final five innings in relief and giving up six hits, two walks and fanning five.
At the plate, Smith was 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and three stolen bases; Xavier Wooten had a triple and RBI; Freddie Wooten had a double and two RBI; Heustess had a double and RBI; Hollingsworth had two RBI.
The Eagles will play host to St. Pauls on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a conference game