Reidsville blanked at home by Phoenix

REIDSVILLE — The McMichael Fighting Phoenix got production from all parts of their lineup and were too much for the Reidsville Rams Friday night. McMichael hit three homeruns and got strong pitching from Allen Webster and Craig Erskine in a 13-0 North State 2-A Conference victory.
With the win, McMichael improved to 12-5 overall and 7-0 in North State play.
The loss dropped the Rams to 1-5 in conference games and 4-11 overall.
The Phoenix, who got homeruns from Ethan Satterfield, Joseph Hughes and Reggie Manuel, have outscored their opponents 42-0 in the past four games.
McMichael has not allowed a run since March 28 — a 10-5 victory over Magna Vista.
Just moments after the game began Satterfield gave his team a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to left field off starter Craig Pruitt. After a flyout from Webster, Hughes sent a ball over the leftfield fence for a 2-0 Phoenix advantage.
By inning’s end, McMichael had plated five runs on five hits and still left the bases loaded.
The Rams were out hit 11-3 by the Phoenix.
Webster pitched three innings of two-hit baseball and Erskine pitched the final two innings and allowed one hit. The duo combined for 12 strikeouts and three walks. In contrast, the Rams’ pitchers surrendered eight walks against one strikeout.
Trailing 5-0, the Rams got a leadoff single from Jason Pruitt, who moved to second on a fielder’s choice groundout from Ryan Ellis.
However, with two outs, Pruitt was left stranded at second.
In the loss, Reidsville left six runners on base — including two in the third inning and the bases loaded in the fourth.
McMichael added two runs in the second and four more in the third inning for a commanding 11-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Craig Pruitt drew a leadoff walk and two batters later Jeremy Pruitt doubled to left field off Webster. A
gain, the Phoenix pitcher ended the inning with a strikeout and preserved the shutout.
In four of the five innings, McMichael ended Reidsville’s at-bats with strikeouts.
For the Phoenix, Erskine scored four times and was 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and Corey Shelton added three runs scored and was 2-for-3.
Manuel, the team’s No. 9 hitter, hit a solo homerun in the top of the fourth inning. Clint Foulks added five RBIs — two coming in both the first and third innings.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday at West Stokes, while the Phoenix host
Southern Guilford.