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Seniors Andrew Patrick and Alex Borst led Bandys High past visiting Fred T. Foard 6-3 on Wednesday as the Trojans won their baseball season-opener for the third time in four seasons.
Patrick hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning and was Bandys’ starting pitcher before giving way to Borst, who came in and pitched out of a jam and got a win after eventually throwing for 3 2/3 innings.
Borst, a right-hander, entered with a runner on first and one out in the fourth inning and got a double play ball to get the Trojans (1-0) out of the inning. He gave up only one hit, struck out two, walked one and gave up no runs to gain a win.
Patrick, a right-hander, threw 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and three runs. He struck out five and walked three.
Austin Houser took the loss for the Tigers (0-1) after going four innings, giving up four hits, five runs (three earned), striking out five and walking two.
Bandys led 3-2 through three innings and regained the lead with a two-run fourth inning after the Tigers had scored in the top of that inning for a 3-all tie.
Senior Mac Beam had two hits for the Trojans, who won their first game in 2015 and 2016 and fell 9-4 to Shelby last season as part of an 0-4 start.
The Trojans are vying for their first winning season since 2013 (19-8), and they were 7-16 a year ago.
Bandys plays at St. Stephens on Thursday at 7 p.m. while Foard is to play West Lincoln in an endowment game on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Foard.
Alexander Central 5, South Iredell 1: Justin Cook pitched six innings, scattering five hits, as the Cougars opened the season at home with a victory.
Cook gave up an unearned run, walked two and struck out 10, working with a lead after the Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to wipe out a 1-0 deficit.
Nate Moretz had two hits and Josh Jacobs, batting clean-up, went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Alexander Central.
Moretz pitched the seventh inning for the Cougars, striking out two.
Davis Turner led South Iredell with two hits.
The Vikings used four pitchers with starter Slade Wallace taking the loss. He went two innings, giving up four hits, three runs (all earned) with no walks and two strikeouts.
Alexander Central’s next game is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at North Davidson.
SOFTBALL
Central Cabarrus 3, Alexander Central 2, 9 innings: In a battle at Pfeiffer University, the Vikings scored a run in the ninth inning to open the season with a victory.
Riley Tucker, who threw a complete game with three walks and five strikeouts, had two of Central Cabarrus’ eight hits and Jenna Endsley added two.
Alexander Central had nine hits with Julie Gast, Kelsea Dejarnette, Ashley Seagle and Alexa Rash each collecting two.
Chesney Millsaps walked eight and struck out two, pitching a complete game for Alexander Central and taking a loss.
The non-conference game was a matchup of teams previously coached by Pfeiffer’s head softball coach, Monte Sherrill.
Alexander Central’s next game is scheduled Tuesday at home against Hickory.
Bandys 17, St. Stephens 0: The host Trojans scored 11 runs in the third inning and then four in the fourth inning to roll past the Indians.
St. Stephens had only three hits, one each by Lauren Moser, Sophie Hainor and Baylee Bumgarner.
Bandys plays Friday at 5 p.m. at North Iredell while St. Stephens is at home Friday at 6 p.m. to face Draughn.
Lake Norman Charter 8, Pine Lake Prep 3: Senior Khristen McPherson had two hits and struck out 11 to lead the Knights to a victory on the road.
Lake Norman Charter wiped out a 1-0 deficit with six runs in the third inning.
Freshman Reese LePrell had two doubles and scored twice for Knights, who next play on Friday against the Carolina Diamondbacks in a 4 p.m. game at the North Mecklenburg Park.
GIRLS SOCCER
North Lincoln 7, Burns 1: At North Lincoln, Rachel Rios scored three goals to spark the Knights past the Bulldogs.
Angie Allen had one goal and three assists for North Lincoln, Dylan Ambrose added one goal and two assists, Taylor Doss scored once and Hailey Hunter had a goal and an assist for North Lincoln.
The Knights play at East Gaston on Thursday with a 6 p.m. start.
BOYS LACROSSE
Lake Norman Charter 20, Community School of Davidson 4: Brandon Webster had five goals and A.J. Harris had four, leading the Knights to a season-opening victory.
Luke Mostert added four assists for Lake Norman Charter, which next plays on Friday against Independence.