Lumberton baseball wins again!

Oxendine and Hardin smash home runs and pitch tough in 7-2 win

(photos & article courtesy of D. Kenney)

North Carolina (Lumberton) used two powerful weapons as they defeated Tennessee (Goodlettsville) 7-2 on Wednesday in the 53rd Annual Dixie Youth World Series. Gage Hardin and Daniel Oxendine both hit home runs and delivered excellent pitching for NC. Hardin pitched the first four innings of the game and gave up only three hits and two runs. Oxendine pitched the last two innings without giving up a hit for the second straight night. Hardin hit his solo home run with one out in the bottom of the 3rd inning. After Hardin’s home run, Evan Odom hit a screaming line drive base hit and Daniel Oxendine followed with two-run blast over the centerfield fence.

Tennessee scored a run in both the 2nd and 4th innings to cut Lumberton's early lead to 6-2. Lumberton's Nolan Locklear led off the bottom of the 4th inning with a single. Pinch runner C.J Locklear advanced to third base on two wild pitches. J.J. Oxendine hit a ground ball to the pitcher that scored North Carolina’s final run.

With the win, North Carolina (Lumberton) advances to the 4th round of the World Series and will take on Alabama (Auburn) at 5:30 PM on Thursday. Alabama was an 8-4 winner over Virginia (Charlotte County). Thursday's winner will advance to the final four on Friday. The loser will be eliminated.

The leading batters for Lumberton included Gage Hardin 1 for 3 with a solo home run, Daniel Oxendine 1 for 3 with a two-run homer, Raleigh Forrest 2 for 2 with an RBI, Evan Odom 1 for 3, Alec Brewington 1 for 3, Austin Swiderski 1 for 2, Nolan Locklear 2 for 2 with an RBI, and J.J. Oxendine 1 for 2 with an RBI.