By Mike Duprez
The Lexington Dispatch
TYRO — West Davidson pitcher Josh Andrews was on a roll, allowing one hit in five innings. But so was Salisbury sophomore Brian Bauk.
And then the Hornets (proved to be the closers.
Bauk completed a masterpiece of a one-hitter, Spencer Carmichael hit a solo home run and John Knox delivered a clutch, two-run single as Salisbury beat the Dragons 4-0 to open Central Carolina Conference play Tuesday at Feezor Field.
“Salisbury is a very good team,” said West coach Jerry Walser. “Obviously, they’re one of the contenders.”
That was evident Tuesday. Bauk surrendered only a third inning single by Justin Cecil and issued a pair of walks while striking out six.
“Good defense,” Bauk said. “All those guys made plays like I’ve never seen them make plays before. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
The Dragons got just five runners on base the whole game.
“Brian did a phenomenal job,” said Salisbury coach Scott Maddox. “You couldn’t ask for any better.”
The only hit Salisbury got through five innings was a leadoff double by Phillip Tonseth in the third.
That’s when Maddox had a suggestion for his hitters.
“Coach told us to step up closer at the plate and we all listened to him,” Carmichael said.
Carmichael was the first to pay heed when he belted an Andrews fastball into the trees beyond the fence in left center.Meanwhile, Bauk seemed to get stronger, retiring the side in order in the sixth, including a pair of strikeouts.
“I always feel I can get used to the mound,” Bauk said. “I got comfortable with the mound and did what I do.”
The Hornets’ Kyle Wolfe led off the top of the seventh with a bloop single and moved to second on Ian Swaim’s sacrifice. Tonseth then lined a single to right, scoring Wolfe with an insurance run. The Hornets weren’t done. Scott Vanderpoel dumped a single just behind first base. Carmichael advanced the runners with a grounder to Andrews. With first base open, Walser ordered an intentional walk, bringing Knox to the plate.
“I said, ‘John, you’re a state championship quarterback, an all-conference point guard on our basketball team and they just walked a sophomore to get to you.’ ” Maddox said. “I told him, ‘ We need you to step up and make something happen for us.’ I wasn’t disappointed at all having him up at the plate.”
Knox promptly punched a two-run single through the hole between first and second, making it a 4-0 game.
The Dragons got a pair of runners on in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball when Colby Bessette struck out and Zach Queen’s two-out walk. But Bauk got Jake Livengood on an infield pop fly to end the game.