CLOSING OUT STRONG: River Bandits split with Southpaws, one-hit Steamers

The Tarboro River Bandits are trying to close out the regular season strong as they prepare for the Old North State League playoffs.

The River Bandits split Sunday’s Northeastern Division doubleheader with the division-leading New Bern Southpaws at Kafer Park. New Bern ended Tarboro’s four-game win streak in the first game (the completion of a suspended contest) with an 11-9 victory, while the Bandits took the second game 11-2.

As of Monday, the Southpaws were 14-7 in the division and 21-12 overall, while the River Bandits were 14-9 in the division and 28-11 overall. Tarboro was scheduled to play at home against Edenton (12-8, 24-10).

The River Bandits went into Monday’s game having won six of their last eight contests.

In the completion of the suspended game, Tarboro trailed 8-3 in the fourth inning but battled back to tie it at 8-all before New Bern scored three runs in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

The River Bandits outhit the Southpaws 13-7 as Brayden Buckner went 3-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored, Brett Rogers was 3-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored, two stolen bases and a walk, and Ryan Fluharty went 3-for-5 with two RBI, a double, a run scored and a stolen base.

Tarboro used five pitchers in the game.

Carter Mills (1.1 innings, two hits, three earned runs, five walks, two strikeouts) suffered the loss on the mound.

Hazen Lancaster worked four innings and surrendered five hits, eight runs (none earned) with four walks and four strikeouts; Jackson Thorne walked three and struck out two in 2.1 innings; Layton Dupree pitched an inning and fanned two and Austin King struck out one batter in one-third of an inning.

The second game was all Tarboro, as the Bandits scored four runs in the top of the first inning, enjoyed single runs in the second, third and fifth frames and tacked on two runs in the fourth and seventh innings to gain the split.

The teams combined for eight errors (Tarboro three, New Bern five).

Cole Molina was the winning pitcher for Tarboro, as he went seven inning and scattered seven hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts and two walks.

Cam Greenway smashed a home run and finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for the River Bandits.

Ryan Fluharty (2-for-5, homer, two RBI), Daniel Stewart (2-for-5) and Buckner (homer, 2-for-3, four RBI) also had multiple-hit games for Tarboro, while Jaxon Masterson and Ryan Yaroshuk also drove in runs.

Tarboro began the weekend with a one-hit shutout by Layton Dupree in a 10-0 Northeastern Division win over the Steamers at Tarboro Municipal Stadium.

Dupree worked the first 4.2 frames, walked five and struck out four. Lee Watson struck out two and allowed no hits nor runs in 2.2 innings of relief.

Tarboro, which led 3-0 after a run in the first inning and two more in the second, erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break the game open.

The River Bandits finished with 12 hits, as Fluharty (double, two RBI) led the way with three and Brady Holloway (two RBI) and Rogers (RBI) added two each.

Providing one hit each for Tarboro were Masterson (RBI), Greenway (two RBI), Stewart (double, RBI), Buckner and Yaroshuk.