Athletics News
Pinder does it all in Coolray Field win over East Jackson
The lights weren't too bright for #4-ranked Tallulah Falls and Rohajae Pinder, as the Indians grabbed an 8-6 win over East Jackson at Coolray Field in Gwinnett on Wednesday night.
Pinder had a phenomenal performance, earning the win on the mound while backing himself with five RBI on a pair of triples. He had the go-ahead bases-clearing triple in the third and locked it down from there.
Tallulah Falls got on the board first with a BJ Carver sac fly to right that scored Ashton Roache, who led off the second with a double. The Eagles went ahead in the top of the third on back-to-back doubles to make it 2-1. TFS bounced back in the home half after loading the bases with only one out. Pinder shot a ball to deep center to clear the bags and put his team ahead 4-2.
Pinder proceeded to strike out a pair in the fourth as part of a 1-2-3 inning. Chase Pollock doubled to lead off the home half, and scored on a fly ball hit by Danny Grant that dropped in. The 5-2 lead held another inning, as Pinder again retired the side in the fifth. Chris Waldron scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-2 advantage.
East Jackson wouldn't go away easily. A four-hit inning including a couple of doubles brought the score within 6-5, and chased Pinder as Andrew Skvarka came in relief. The Indians used the bottom of the sixth to add some insurance, which came on a two-run triple by Pinder that scored Diego Gonzalez and Roache.
Up 8-5, the Indians had some breathing room with three outs to get for the win. Skvarka got in a jam, allowing a run and then the potential go-ahead run to come to the plate with two outs. Pollock entered in for the final out, inducing a harmless popup in the infield to notch the save. One of the games highlights was a diving catch in the second by Waldron, who then doubled off the runner at second to end a threat.
Pinder moves to 1-1 on the season, and lasted 5.1 innings, striking out eight while allowing four runs (all earned). Pollock gets his second save of the season. Pinder had two hits, five RBI, and a walk. Roache also had a two-hit game, scoring twice. TFS is now 4-1 on the season, and winners of three straight.
W - Rohajae Pinder (1-1)
SV - Chase Pollock (2)
RBI - 5 Rohajae Pinder; BJ Carver; Danny Grant