River Bandits continue success against Wingmen

The Tarboro River Bandits continued their success against the Kinston Wingmen with a 4-3 Northeastern Division triumph on Wednesday night at Lancer Field in Kinston and a 12-2 triumph on Thursday night at Tarboro Municipal Stadium.

Tarboro improved to 26-10 overall and 12-8 within the Northeastern Division. They also emerged 5-1 against the Wingmen (7-13, 16-17).

New Bern leads the division at 13-6, and Edenton (11-7) holds a slim lead over the River Bandits for second place.

In Wednesday’s game, Ryan Fluharty led Tarboro with three hits, one a double, while Daniel Stewart homered and doubled and finished with a pair of hits. Brayden Buckner also smacked a hole run while Van Cisle, Cam Greenway and Brett Rogers provided the other base hits.

Both teams scored two runs in the third inning and one in the fifth. The River Bandits added what proved to be the winning run in the top of the sixth inning and outhit Kinston 9-5.

Jackson Thorne earned the win on the mound for Tarboro. He pitched two innings and allowed no hits nor runs while striking out five and walking none.

Nicholas Neighbors fanned seven, walked three and allowed four hits and three earned runs in his five innings of work. Isaiah Brewington (one strikeout) and Austin King (two strikeouts, one hit) each provided one inning of relief.

Colby Gardner suffered the loss on then mound for Kinston, allowing eight hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.

The Wingmen’s hits came from Northern Nash product Travis Gamache (two) and Paul Rice/Cameron Turner and Nick Cleghorn (one each).

In Thursday’s game, Bandits starting pitcher Hazen Lancaster allowed just four hits and one earned run with nine strikeouts and five walks as the Bandits rolled to the win.

Greenway led the Tarboro offense with three hits and an RBI and scored a pair of runs, while Brayden Buckner collected two hits and two RBI and scored once.

Relief pitcher Mason Roy struck out three and allowed two hits and one earned run in an inning of work.

The River Bandits were scheduled to play host to Edenton on Friday night, weather permitting.

UPCOMING GAMES

Saturday, July 20: At home against the Clayton Clovers (7 p.m.)

Sunday, July 21: Against the New Bern Southpaws (5 p.m., 6:30 p.m.)

Monday, July 22: At home against the Edenton Steamers (7 p.m.)