The top-seeded Clover Hill Bucks commenced the Rockingham County Baseball League playoff semifinals with a 13-3 win, then the Bridgewater Reds responded with a 5-2 victory at home at Ray Heatwole Field to even the best-of-five-game series.
Reds pitcher Chris Huffman hurled 12 strikeouts and Brett Tharp (East Hardy HS/Bridgewater College) came in as the closer tossing two strikeouts to seal the victory over Clover Hill at home.
Bridgewater grabbed a 5-0 lead over the first two innings and Huffman kept the Bucks off-balance from the mound.
Evan Hamilton (East Hardy HS/Potomac State College) led the Reds with three hits including a double and Tharp contributed a double during the win.
Evan Hamilton smacked a leadoff double and brother Mason Hamilton (EHHS/PSC) recorded a single.
Lucas delivered a two-run-producing single into right field to put the Reds ahead 2-0 in the opening frame.
Tharp crushed an RBI double into center field to plate Lucas with two outs and extend the Bridgewater advantage to 3-0.
Knicely singled to begin the second inning for the Reds, then Smith was beaned.
Evan Hamilton smacked an RBI single as a wild throw allowed Knicley to dash home.
Mason Hamilton garnered an RBI sacrifice fly to the right fielder sending Smith home to create a 5-0 lead.
The Bucks notched two runs in the 7th inning on a sacrifice bunt and RBI single, but that was all Huffman and company would permit en route to the Reds’ 5-2 victory.
After a Bucks single, Tharp pitched two strikeouts and Evan Hamilton caught the final out to end the game in the 9th inning.
The Reds’ 5-2 win evened the semifinals series and the next game was back in Clover Hill on Sunday night.
Bridgewater returned home on Monday and the next game scheduled for the RCBL semifinals is tonight in Clover Hill.
