How ?sweep? it is! – Pioneers take Game 2 at Blackman

Clint Newman leads away from first during Friday?s win over Rhea County. Newman hit a pair of home runs Thursday night to help WCHS to a 6-0 win against Blackman.

Thursday night, however, the trip home from the Blaze?s home ballpark was much more enjoyable, as WCHS came away with a league sweep, downing the Blaze 6-0 behind a pair of Clint Newman homers, a stellar effort in the field and a rock-solid pitching performance by Josh Mullins.

Newman broke the game open with a two-run blast in the fifth, sparking a four-run Pioneer inning, and put the exclamation point on the victory with a solo blast in the seventh that cleared the 375-foot mark in center field.

Newman, Kyle Mullican and Derrin Rogers all finished 2-for-4, with Rogers and Newman accounting for five RBIs. Mark Harvey and Casey Talbert had Warren County?s other hits.

Mullins went the distance on the mound, scattering three hits and a walk over seven innings. He hit one batter and struck out six, and mowed down the last 10 BHS hitters he faced after getting out of some early jams.

Blackman loaded the bases in the first inning, but the Pioneers got out of the inning unscathed after a shallow pop-up to center and a diving stop of a Jeff Raymond grounder by shortstop Chase Basham.

Tyler Brewer reached on an error to open the Blackman half of the second, and Justin Bowers was hit by a pitch, but once again the Pioneers got out of trouble, with Mullins fanning Jonathan Sisco then forcing a pair of grounders which were handled by Basham.

WCHS broke the game?s scoreless tie in the fourth, when Mark Harvey led off with a single to shallow right and scored on a fielder?s choice off Rogers? bat. In the next inning Mullican singled to left with two out in the inning, and Newman followed with his second homer of the year and the first of two on the day. Harvey walked and Talbert was hit by a pitch, and a single by Rogers plated Harvey. Talbert later came home on a wild pitch, giving Warren County a 5-0 lead that would be padded later by Newman?s solo homer in the seventh.

Kirkland Wheeler took the loss for the Blaze, giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out four Pioneers and hit one. Ryan Cole came on in the sixth, with Newman?s seventh-inning homer the only hit he allowed.

With the sweep the Pioneers improved to 4-4 in league play, and are in fourth place in the 7-AAA standings entering this week?s series with White County.