A walk-off steal of home gave the Fort Mill Post 43 Juniors a 6-5 win over Rock Hill Post 34 Tuesday night.
Coming off a 16-6 win to open the series Monday, Fort Mill was able to overcome a Rock Hill rally in the top of the inning to improve to 4-1 overall on the season.
Preston Schmitz stole home with one out in the bottom of the seventh after walking to get on base earlier in the inning.
Post 43 had just six hits in the game and scored five runs in the second inning to open a nice lead at 5-2. Rock Hill scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take the early lead.
In the bottom of the second, Post 43 scored those five runs on four hits, two walks and two Rock Hill errors. Schmitz got things started with a double to open the bottom half of the inning. Schmitz went 1-2 at the plate and got the start on the mound.
A walk by Ryan Stukitz, a single by Braydon Plyler and a single by James Knoll loaded the bases for Post 43. A Rock Hill error then tied the game and a second consecutive error allowed Post 43 to grab a 4-2 lead. Alex Smith then singled to make it 5-2 scoring Noah Wright.
Plyler went 2-4 in the game with an RBI and Smith went 1-4 with an RBI as well.
Rock Hill would score two runs in the fifth off a couple of hits to climb back into the game and pull within one at 5-4. Then in the top of the seventh, Rock Hill would tie the game off three consecutive hits.
Post 43 loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with the help of two walks and a single by Kade Balsinger.
Schmitz pitched well going four innings and allowing three runs on two hits. He also struck out seven and walked four.
Gavin Oberg came in the game to relieve Schmitz and went three innings allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out two and walking three and came away with the win.
The Post 43 Juniors head back to Rock Hill Thursday to finish off the week.
Seniors fall at Rock Hill
The Post 43 Senior team fell 2-0 to Rock Hill Post 34 in their first game of the week and are now 2-3 on the season.
Fort Mill managed just four hits in the game, while Rock Hill had even less with three hits. Eli Craddock, Gabe Simmons, Jonathan Barschow and Sam Czyz all had hits for Post 43.
Czyz went six innings on the mound allowing three hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out six.
Fort Mill will host Rock Hill both Wednesday and Thursday before hosting the North Carolina-South Carolina Challenge this weekend at Fort Mill High.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
