Eagles Baseball Battles to the End but Fall Short at Clinton 8-7

East Bladen baseball team photo.

Clinton, NC - The East Bladen Eagles put together an early offensive surge Monday night but narrowly fell to Clinton, 8-7, in a tough non-conference matchup.

With the loss, East Bladen moves to a 10-10 overall record while holding steady at 7-5 in conference play.

The Eagles wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, plating six runs across the first two innings. Debo Lewis sparked the early rally by reaching base with a double and later scoring a run, while Andrew Musslewhite followed with a single and a run scored of his own to keep the momentum rolling.

Colton Daly chipped in at the plate as well, driving in a run on a single and drawing a walk to help extend the Eagles' early lead.

Isaiah Lee showed patience at the plate with a single and a walk, helping set the table for Zach Sholar, who was a force all night long. Sholar crossed the plate twice and recorded two singles, including a clutch RBI hit that kept East Bladen within striking distance late.

Jayce Hatcher added to the offensive effort with a single, a double, and an RBI, putting consistent pressure on Clinton's defense.

Despite the early lead, Clinton responded with eight combined runs in the second and third innings. However, the Eagles continued to battle.

In the top of the seventh, Zach Sholar stole second to ignite a late rally. With a crucial lineup change, Jaxon Hair stepped to the plate for Easton Bostic and delivered, lining a single to left field that brought Sholar home to tighten the game to 8-7.

Hair’s timely hit placed the tying run just 90 feet away, but East Bladen ultimately came up just short as Clinton closed the door.

Easton Bostic contributed earlier by reaching base with a walk and scoring a run, while Aiden Hargrove added a single and a walk, keeping the offense moving throughout the evening.

Tyler Eason battled through four at-bats, adding depth to the Eagles’ lineup during critical stretches.

On the mound, Braylon Cromartie got the start, working 1.2 innings while striking out three. Easton Bostic came on in relief, tossing 2.1 innings with four strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.

Jayce Hatcher provided a strong finish for East Bladen, delivering two innings of shutdown baseball with three strikeouts, allowing only a single hit and no earned runs.

Despite the loss, the Eagles showcased their grit and resilience, pushing Clinton to the final out.

With the regular season winding down, East Bladen will look to use this performance as a building block heading into their final games and potential playoff push.

---

Eagles Baseball Battles to the End but Fall Short at Clinton 8-7