Wildcats outslug pair of opponents

Ledger photo LARRY HILLIARD MOUND MANEUVERS - Gaffney coach Tom Owens makes a pitching change during a recent game. The Indians return to action Tuesday against visiting Spartanburg. A strong outing by starting pitcher Dustin Byars. Another explosive offensive performance. Two straight dominating wins by the Blacksburg Wildcats this week.

Byars tossed a one-hitter and the Wildcats banged out 15 hits to down region rival Carolina, 18-0 on Wednesday. The rout followed a 16-5 victory over Jonesville on Monday.

"We are hitting the ball well," Blacksburg coach Toby Elliott said. "Dustin also pitched very well for us."

Gary Gaut had three hits and scored three times while Ryan Dellinger and Ashby Pruitt each knocked in three runs.

Gaut also made the defensive play of the game to keep Carolina off the scoreboard.

The Wildcats jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

Cameron Byars got things started by reaching first on an error. Pruitt doubled him home for the Wildcats' first run.

Pruitt then scored on a fielding error before Gaut doubled. Two more runs scored on passed balls.

Dellinger delivered a single to plate the Wildcats' final run of the inning.

In the second inning, Price scored on an error to make it 6-0.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the third on Pruitt's two-run single to left.

Gaut, Will Raines and Dellinger had the RBIs in the Wildcats' three-run fourth inning.

In the fifth, the Wildcats exploded for seven runs on six hits.

Byars struck out five and didn't walk a batter.

Against Jonesville, Rusty Price pitched three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. Dellinger started and was charged with five runs in three innings.

Leading 6-5, the Wildcats scored seven times in the fifth inning to seal the win.

With one out, Cameron Byars singled, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and stole home.

Gaut knocked in Price with a double before Chase Norman Dellinger delivered back-toback run-scoring singles.

Josh Scruggs singled and scored on Dustin Byars single to complete the scoring.