March 27, 2013

Reagan pitches Lexington to 4-0 win over Florida Christian in NHSI opener

Cary, N.C. — Josh Reagan pitched a complete-game, four-hitter while Nick Ciuffo and Ryan Brown extended their hitting streaks to 11 games helping top-ranked Lexington to a 4-0 win over Florida Christian (Miami) in the opening game of the USA Baseball National High School Invitational at USA Baseball Complex on Wednesday.

Lexington, which won its ninth in a row, improved to 11-1. The Wildcats will participate in quarterfinal action on Thursday.  The opponent and time will be announced later today.  The Patriots fell to 10-4.

Reagan, fresh off a two-hit, complete-game effort in Lexington’s 9-0 win at North Augusta on Friday, needed just 89 pitches, only 66 after the first inning, to improve to 4-0.  He allowed four hits while walking one and striking out five.  For the season, he’s struck out 29 and walked only four over 24 innings.   Reagan retired eight of the final nine batters of the game.

Brown led off the game with a single and eventually scored on a double-steal for a 1-0 Lexington advantage.  In the third inning, Brown walked with one out, moved to second on Dalton Addy’s sacrifice bunt and scored to give the Wildcats a 2-0 when Ciuffo lined an RBI single to left.  Courtesy runner Cameron Matthews stole second and third and eventually scored to give Lexington a 3-0 advantage.

Cole McMillan reached second base on an error leading off the seventh inning, moved to third on David Barboza’s sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch for the final margin.

Andrew George (4-1) suffered the loss allowing three runs on two hits with five strikeouts over the first four innings.

Lexington 4, Florida Christian (Miami) 0

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
———————————————–
Lexington……….. 102 000 1 –  4  2  1
Florida Christian…  000 000 0 –  0  4  1
———————————————–
WP – Josh Reagan (4-0). LP – Andrew George (4-1).
Hitters: Lexington, Ryan Brown 1-2, Nick Ciuffo 1-3, RBI.
Records: Lexington 11-1, Florida Christian 10-4.