COVINGTON, Va. – The Riverheads Gladiators (1-0) were dominant on both sides of the diamond at Casey Field on Thursday, March 16, following a 15-1 victory over the Covington Cougars (0-2).
While the Gladiators put together 12 hits with their 15 runs scored as a team, the Gladiators’ defense was perfect, as well, as they had five errorless innings on defense.
Bennett Dunlap (3-for-4) led all hitters with a game-high three base hits including a double and a triple, along with three RBIs. Dunlap was just a home run shy of the cycle (single, double, triple and home run).
For the second game in a row, the Cougars were held to just two hits. While the team was shut out on opening day to their crosstown rival Alleghany Mountaineers, the Cougars managed to put a run across the scoreboard on Thursday. Luke Conner (1-for-2) and Landon Arritt (1-for-2) each picked up their first hits of the season. Conner also provided the team’s lone RBI.
The Gladiators jumped out early on the Cougars with a five-run first inning, sparked by Dunlap’s RBI triple.
In the home-half of the first inning, the Cougars grabbed a run back. After Ethan Martin reached first base on a dropped third strike, Conner ripped a triple to center field, scoring Martin.
The Gladiators would take a commanding 10-run lead in the second following a six-run inning. Logan Austin (1-for-2) and Brendon Fortune (1-for-4) had back-to-back RBIs to push the teams’ lead at 7-1. Not long after, Camden Huffer (1-for-1) had a one-out two-run double that gave the team a 10-1 lead.
The Gladiators would push two runs across in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
Lucas Edward (W) was the winning pitcher for the Gladiators as he went five innings, while allowing just one run on two hits and struck out 12. Trey Cook (L) suffered the loss as he went just 1.1 innings where he gave up 10 runs (eight earned) on five with, while walking four and struck out two.
The two teams will meet up again on Monday at Riverheads.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
RHS 5 6 0 2 2 X X
CHS 1 0 0 0 0 X X
Gladiators Box Score
Players AB H R RBI BB SO
Austin, SS 2 1 2 1 1 0
Fortune, RF 4 1 2 1 0 1
H. Dunlap, 1B 3 1 2 0 1 0
Lilly, LF 3 1 1 0 1 1
B. Dunlap, CF 4 3 3 3 0 0
Huffer, C 1 1 2 2 1 0
Kuhn, C 2 1 1 0 0 0
A. Fitzgerald, DH 1 0 0 0 1 1
E. Fitzgerald, DH 2 1 1 1 0 0
L. Dunlap, 3B 3 1 0 1 0 0
Phillips, 2B 1 1 1 0 2 0
——————————————————————
Totals 26 12 15 9 7 3
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Edwards (W) 5 2 1 1 0 12
Cougars Box Score
Players AB H R RBI BB SO
Rodgers, CF 3 0 0 0 0 2
Martin, 3B 2 0 1 0 0 2
Conner, C/2B 2 1 0 1 0 0
N. Phillips, DH 2 0 0 0 0 2
Crowder, SS/P 1 0 0 0 0 0
Williams, P 1 0 0 0 0 1
Cook, P/2B 0 0 0 0 0 0
R. Phillips, 2B – – – – – –
Hunter, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 1
Hoke, RF/C 2 0 0 0 0 2
Arritt, LF 2 1 0 0 0 0
Carper, 2B/SS 2 0 0 0 0 2
—————————————————————–
Totals 18 2 1 1 0 12
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Cook 1.1 5 10 8 4 2
Crowder 0.1 1 1 1 3 0
Williams 3.1 6 4 2 0 1
———————————————————-
Totals 5 12 15 11 7 3
