Plagued by two infield errors that led to six unearned runs in the second inning, the Lumberton baseball team dropped an 11-6 decision to Cape Fear in Two Rivers Conference play on Tuesday.
The loss marked the first for the Pirates (15-3, 8-1 TRC) in league play, but Paul Hodges' club still maintains a two-game lead in the conference with three games remaining.
Lumberton never did recover from its disastrous second inning, when two errors -- including one with bases loaded -- a hit batter, two walks and a double had the Pirates staring down the barrel of a 7-1 deficit.
The Pirates attempted a comeback in the third by plating three runs, but Colts starter Brandon Dees didn't let it rattle him. He checked out of the contest after six innings of work, allowing just three hits while striking out 11 batters.
Lumberton starter Matt McIntyre (6-1) lasted just 1 2/3 innings before giving way to reliever Kevin Walker.
The Colts (11-10, 5-5), however, managed to grab four more runs off Walker over the next three frames to put the game out of reach.
Trailing by seven, the Pirates attempted a rally in the top of the sixth, but could only muster two runs before their comeback effort stalled.
Hodges said he was pleased with the fact his team battled back after digging a large hole for itself early on.
"After that, we didn't quit," he said. "We were down 7-1 and we came back and pecked away. But everytime we got a run or two Cape Fear did a good job of getting another run of insurance."
Lady Pirates corral Colts
FAYETTEVILLE -- The Lumberton girls softball team jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead Tuesday against Cape Fear and never looked back, registering a 7-3 victory in Two Rivers Conference action.
Brittany Wilkins started things off for the Pirates (18-2, 7-2 TRC) in the early outburst, smacking a triple to kick the offense into gear. After Anna Evans was hit by a pitch, Cheryl Locklear came up with a two-run single, which was then followed by Evie Locklear's RBI double.
The Lady Colts (5-15, 5-5) kept chipping away at the lead against Pirate starter Dominique Brooks, however, and by the end of the sixth inning the Lady Pirates were nursing a 5-3 lead.
Lumberton's Hannah Hayes provided her club with some much need insurance in the seventh when she blasted a two-run homer to seal the victory. Both Hayes and Wilkins finished the day 2-for-4. Locklear also notched three RBIs.
"We hit the ball fairly well, played good defense and got the hits when we needed to," Lumberton manager Mackie Register said.
Brooks (15-2) grabbed the win for Lumberton, striking out one while walking three en route to the complete game effort. Kim Paige took the loss for Cape Fear.
Pirates Box
Lumberton 103 002 0 -- 6 4 3
Cape Fear 161 120 x -- 11 11 3
Batteries: L -- McIntyre, Walker (2) and Carmichael; CF -- Dees, Weathington (7) and Taylor.
WP: Dees. LP: McIntyre (6-1).
2B: L -- A. Locklear; CF -- Stewart.
Multi-hit games: CF -- McLauran 2-4, Atkinson 2-3, Stewart 2-4, Nichols 2-3.
Records: Lumberton 15-3, 8-1 TRC; Cape Fear 11-10, 5-5.
Lady Pirates Box
Lumberton 300 020 2 -- 7 9 1
Cape Fear 000 102 0 -- 3 6 4
Batteries: L -- Brooks and Evans; CF -- Page and Bradshaw.
2B: L -- E. Locklear.
3B: L -- B. Wilkins.
HR: L -- A. Evans.
Multi-hit games: L -- Hayes 2-4, B. Wilkins 2-4.
Records: Lumberton 18-2, 7-2; Cape Fear 5-15, 5-5.
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