Moore strikes out 11 as Huskies top Estacada
AURORA - Senior Wyatt Moore struck out a career-high eleven batters, and run support finally came in the late stages of the game as the Huskies defeated Estacada 4-1 from Bob Brack Stadium on Wednesday evening. After setting a new career high just two starts ago, Moore ties Brock Breshears (11 - 4/5/12 vs. Molalla) for most strikeouts in a game by a North Marion pitcher in the last three years. With the victory, North Marion (11-7, 7-1) clinches the best-of-three season series from Estacada (5-10, 1-7) and will go for the sweep when the two teams meet up again on May 8th.
Moore (3-3, 2.27) walked just one Estacada batter all game long, and that came in the third inning. The leadoff walk came around to score following a stolen base, wild pitch, and RBI groundout as the Rangers claimed an early 1-0 lead.
The Huskies left opportunities to score stranded on the bases until they finally converted in the fifth inning. In the frame, the first two batters were retired in two pitches as a quick inning appeared to be lined up. However, Shane McKillip perservered through a seven-pitch at bat to reach base on an infield single. After moving over to third on an error and wild pitch, Emry Patterson came up big with a ground ball base hit through the hole at second.
The tie lasted just one inning, as North Marion went back on the attack in the bottom of the sixth. Tristan Wampole started things out with a single before two batters walked consecutively to load the bases. With two outs, McKillip drew a four-pitch walk to give the Huskies their first lead of the game. Breshears tacked on two more runs with a two-out, two-RBI single to shallow center field as North Marion went up 4-1 heading into the seventh.
Wyatt Moore used a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to retire the side in the seventh, as North Marion came away victorious. Moore tossed the complete game victory in exactly 100 pitches.
Contrary to Monday's high-scoring, high-offense affair, the two teams combined for just eight hits; no batter recorded more than one hit for either side. Brock Breshears' lone hit did bring in two RBIs to lead all batters on the day. Breshears and McKillip both reached base three times for North Marion.
After Wednesday's victory, the Huskies host the only remaining league opponent yet to be seen. In a matchup on Friday, the Madras White Buffaloes come to town for a 5:00pm first pitch from Bob Brack Stadium.