Staff report

KANNAPOLIS — Matt Donahue pitched a complete game, Jarrid Nelson banged out three hits, and South Rowan defeated A.L. Brown, 5-1, in the first round of the F&M Bank Classic on Friday night.

Donahue, South’s ace, maintained his poise, worked around four errors and steered the 2A Raiders (5-7) into a 6:30 p.m. semifinal game today against 4A West Forsyth (10-3). The Titans shut out Northwest Cabarrus, 4-0, in the first round.

After losing seven in a row, South has won its last three.

The key inning was the top of the third. South got four runs in that inning frame against A.L. Brown starter Ryan O’Kelly, who pitched a complete game for the Wonders. Andrew Jones lined a run-scoring single to left to break the ice. Nelson knocked in the second run with a hit. Garrett Harrington made it  3-0 with a run-scoring groundout, and the Raiders tacked on one more run on an error.

In the fifth, Nelson drove in another run with his third hit, and the Raiders led, 5-0.

A.L. Brown (1-10) finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Chandler Teal singled home a run, but two Wonders were thrown out on the bases on a wild play to end the game.

Caleb Beaver had two hits for A.L. Brown. The Wonders will face Northwest Cabarrus in a 1:30 p.m. consolation game today.

South has frequently performed wih gusto for coach Thad Chrismon in this annual event held at Intimidators Stadium. South won tourney championships in 2014 and 2016 and placed third in 2015. South has won 13 of its last 16 games in the tournament.

S. Rowan     004  010  0 — 5   8    4

A.L. Brown  000  000  1 — 1   6   3

W — Donahue. L — O’Kelly.

Leading hitters — SR: Nelson 3 hits, 2 RBIs. A.L. Brown: Beaver 2-for-3.