Northwestern Trojans blank Clover Blue Eagles in baseball

The story of the game in Clover Monday night was the third inning. Northwestern was able to execute and push three runs across in the top half, and in the home half the Blue Eagles loaded the bases but could not cash in. The Trojans were able to ride that and the pitching of John Gilreath to a 4-0 win in a crucial Region 3-4A battle for first place. Gilreath went the distance for the shutout and only allowed four hits, none after the third inning, while striking out six and walking one. He only allowed one baserunner, on his only walk, from the third inning on.

“John did a great job,” Northwestern coach Mitch Walters said. “That’s his best outing of the year.”

B.A. Ashley beat out an infield hit to third base with one out in the Trojans’ third. Jordan Starkes then singled to centerfield. Will Gardiner then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, his first of two, to move both runners into scoring position with two outs. Clover pitcher Justin Adams would be called for a balk with Cameron Smith up to bat to force in the first run. After Smith stole second, Andrew Shipman lined a base hit to right to plate two and give the Trojans a 3-0 edge.

“We’ve been trying to preach timely hitting all year,” Walters said.

In the bottom of the inning, the Blue Eagles got three base hits to left from Garrett Goldberg, Cody Payne, and Noah Lindsay to load the bases with two outs. But Gilreath got Jimmy Marcelli to ground out to second to end Clover’s only serious threat.

Northwestern would add an insurance run in the fifth. Starkes led off with a double to left. The throw to second beat him easily, but he was able to avoid the tag. Gardiner bunted him to third, and with two outs, he raced home on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.

TURNING POINT

The third inning was the key, and nothing was bigger than Andrew Shipman’s two-out, two-run base hit to make it 3-0.

CRITICAL

The Blue Eagles had a chance to answer right back in the home third, but could not get the big hit with two outs like the Trojans did. Gilreath really locked in from that point on and only allowed one baserunner, on his only walk. He struck out the final two batters of the game to finish strong. Gardiner’s two sacrifice bunts were perfect and put three runners in scoring position that would eventually score. He also had a base hit in the seventh.

Justin Adams pitched six innings for Clover and allowed four runs.

STAR CONTRIBUTORS

Gilreath got stronger as the game went along and got the shutout. Starkes reached base three times and scored twice. Luke Gilson was 2-for-3 as well. Noah Lindsay was 2-for-3 and got half the hits for Clover.

OVERHEARD

“That was our best total performance of the year,” Walters said. “Offense, defense, and pitching.”

“We don’t feel like we’ve finished anything,” Walters said. “We’ve got a big game Friday with NaFo.”

ON DECK

The Blue Eagles will host Rock Hill on Wednesday and Northwestern will host Nation Ford on Friday.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Northwestern Trojans blank Clover Blue Eagles in baseball."