A seven-run first inning gave the Rowan Legion baseball team more than enough support after solid pitching against Concord Tuesday night.
Rowan had five hurlers shut down its host and Brian Bauk and Michael Caldwell had key hits in a 7-1 victory at Central Cabarrus High School. Rowan (4-2) recovered from a 14-5 loss to the Mooresville Moors Monday with its fourth win in five games.
Rowan sent 11 to the plate in the first, teeing off on Concord pitcher Daniel Roman. Harrison Baucom got an infield hit and Chance Bowden drove in Baucom with a double to get the scoring started. Bauk, an Appalachian State signee, drove in a pair with a double but was thrown out at third base. Hunter Brooks’ was walked and Chase Hathcock followed with a single. Michael Pinkston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. East Rowan rising senior Caldwell followed with a bases-clearing double to left that scored three and made it 6-0. Baucom drove in Caldwell to end the scoring.
Hathcock led the way as he had three hits and scored a run. Bowden finished with a pair of hits despite being hit in the head with a pitch in the eighth. Bowden left the field under his own power but did not return.
Rowan pitcher Clint Veal threw the first three innings and Heath Mitchem tossed the fourth to earn the win to make him 3-0. Reliever Justin Evans pitched the fifth and sixth and Ryan Jones threw the seventh. Connor Johnson finished things out with the final two frames.
Concord pitcher Nick Coble came in for the second and threw seven innings to kept Rowan relatively quiet and off the scoreboard. Concord scored its run in the third on a fielder’s choice.
Rowan has tonight off and return to action Thursday at High Point at 6 p.m. Friday, a trip to Western Forsyth precedes a home date with Cherryville at 7 Saturday. Rowan makes a return trip to Cherryville Sunday to play Gaston at 4 p.m.