For the second consecutive game, the Fort Mill Post 43 Seniors struggled in the early innings leading to a loss.
Fort Mill lost 9-7 to Winnsboro Post 16 after giving up six runs in the first two innings.
The visitors put up three runs in the top of the first against Post 43. Winnsboro scored on two walks, a hit batter and a single in the inning to take a 3-0 lead.
Fort Mill threatened in the bottom of the first loading the bases with three walks, but couldn’t get a base hit to score a run.
Winnsboro kept things moving in the second inning. Back-to-back singles and a walk led to a three-run single to put up 6-0 lead.
Post 43 again got runners on off three more walks, still couldn’t get the hits they needed to score a run.
Fort Mill starter Tucker Gandy loaded the bases again in the third inning with three consecutive singles before he was pulled for Britton Nash. Gandy gave up eight runs on seven hits and three walks.
Winnsboro picked up two more runs in the inning off a walk and a sacrifice fly to go up 8-0 before Fort Mill was able to get out of the inning.
Post 43 finally broke through in the fourth with a run. Alex Smith reached on an error and Justin Brink drove him in. Jacob Pettit hit an RBI single to score Smith. Nash had a bases loaded walk scoring Alex Blanchette, who walked earlier in the inning.
Nash was able to keep Winnsboro at bay despite Post 16 getting a couple on base in the fifth inning.
Brink reached third base on an error with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Blanchette drove in a Brink on a sacrifice fly. Josh Patterson doubled and reached third on a passed ball. Pettit singled in Patterson to continue to chip away for Post 43.
Blanchette went to the mound in the sixth inning. Nash went three innings allowing two hits while walking one and striking one out.
Winnsboro added another run in the top of the seventh with a passed ball after getting a couple singles and a walk in the inning.
Fort Mill rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs. Blanchette and Patterson walked to start the inning. Blanchette scored on an error and Rogers drove in Nash who reached on the error. However, that was all Post 43 could muster in the loss.
Blanchette finished going two innings allowing two hits and a run. He struck out three and walked one.
Pettit went 2-3 with two RBIs and Brink was 1-3 with an RBI.
Post 43 Seniors dropped to 1-2 on the season and opens a three-game series against defending state champion Camden Post 17.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
