Nine-Run Inning Sinks Southern Wayne in Season Opener at North Lenoir

LA GRANGE — Southern Wayne opened its season Wednesday night with early momentum, but a pivotal third inning proved too much to overcome in a 12-2 run-rule loss at North Lenoir.

The Saints struck first and briefly controlled the tempo before a nine-run outburst by the Hawks flipped the game and ended it in five innings.

Southern Wayne wasted no time getting on the board. In the top of the first inning, Cayden Mozingo reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home the game’s first run. Kameran Diggins followed by drawing a walk with the bases loaded, forcing in another run and giving the Saints a 2-0 lead.

That early execution, however, was countered in the second inning.

North Lenoir tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame before capitalizing on free passes and defensive pressure in the third. The Hawks sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs, turning a competitive contest into a double-digit deficit in a matter of minutes.

Southern Wayne pitchers combined to allow 12 runs (10 earned) on five hits, while issuing nine walks.

Mozingo started on the mound and worked two innings, allowing one hit and two runs (one earned) while striking out one. James Graham entered in relief and was charged with nine runs — eight earned — in one inning. Peyton Harrell added a scoreless frame late.

Despite the final score, the Saints had bright spots offensively.

Graham led Southern Wayne at the plate, going 3-for-3 and accounting for three of the team’s four hits. Mozingo finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. The Saints also worked four walks but struck out 11 times against North Lenoir pitching.

Defensively, Southern Wayne committed two errors in the loss.

North Lenoir added a run in the fourth before closing the game out in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.

Southern Wayne will look to regroup quickly as it travels to Beddingfield on March 3 for its next matchup.