CHARLOTTESVILLE — For the Greenfield-Central baseball team, putting the ball in play has not been a problem this season. Bringing those runs home, though, has been the team’s biggest struggle.
However, with an aggressive approach at the plate Monday, after managing just two runs through six innings, the Cougars brought four runs across in the seventh frame to seal a 6-0 win against Eastern Hancock. Junior Landen Davis (1-0), in his fourth appearance this season, limited the Royals’ offense to just two hits to earn the win on the mound.
He finished with two walks and seven strikeouts in a complete-game effort for the Cougars, who move to 6-8 this season.
In all, Greenfield-Central finished with 15 hits in the win, led by senior Tyler Mundell’s 4-for-4 effort. He finished with four singles and an RBI.
“Lately, even Friday night (against New Palestine) we took a lot of good pitches,” Cougars head coach Robbie Miller said. “They have to take advantage of what the other pitcher gives them. We are trying to be picky and when we get picky we start thinking. The more aggressive the better.
“If the guy throws a first pitch fastball, I want us jumping all over it.”
Sophomore Andrew Knoblock (1-3) took the loss for the Royals (7-6), throwing 61/3 innings before being replaced by senior Tom Barton with two outs in the seventh. Knoblock finished with two strikeouts and no walks but allowed 13 hits. He now has 17 strikeouts this season, which leads the team.
Eastern Hancock, which entered Monday’s contest winners of six straight, managed just six base runners the entire game. Junior Devin Denny and sophomore Addison True led the team with a hit apiece, both singles.
“They competed; it always worries me coming over to this place (Eastern Hancock),” Miller said. “They were one walk and a fly ball from being back in the game. I know they have conference tomorrow so I know we didn’t see their best (pitcher).”
Greenfield-Central added its first run of the game in the first inning after No. 2 hitter Drey Jameson, a junior, was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI single to right field from senior Tate Hall.
After three scoreless innings, the Cougars added another run in the fifth inning after junior Tyler Farrell knocked a double. Mundell would bring him home two batters later with an RBI single to center field.
Hall finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Farrell was 2-for-4.
In the seventh inning, singles by Hall, Mundell, junior Jake Bennett and senior Drew McDowell helped Greenfield-Central score four times and run away with the win.
McDowell, who hits ninth in the lineup, was 3-for-4 at the plate Monday with four singles to move his hit total to 10 this season.
“He is starting to see the ball better,” Miller said. “He turns the lineup over; when he gets on base I can do a lot of things. He is going to stay there.”
Greenfield-Central will play 6 p.m. today at Connersville, while Eastern Hancock also hits the road today for a 5:30 p.m. game at Mid-Hoosier Conference foe Edinburgh. The Royals at 3-1 are currently in third in MHC play.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Scorecard” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Greenfield-Central 6, Eastern Hancock 0
GCHS (6-8);100;010;4;-;6;15;1
EHHS (7-6);000;000;0;-;0;2;0
WP: Landen Davis (GC). LP: Andrew Knoblock (EH).
2B: Farrell (GC). RBI: Hall, T. Mundell, Bennett 2, McDowell 2 (GC).
Notables
GC: Farrell 2-4 double, Hall 2-3, T. Mundell 4-4 RBI, McDowell 3-4 two RBIs, Bennett two RBIs.
EH: Denny single, True single.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
