SPENCER — North Rowan used a stellar start by pitcher Lee Sells and a complete-game effort by its defense Friday to post a 3-0 win over visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy from Asheboro.

It was a solid bounce back effort for the Cavaliers, coming off an 11-0 loss to the Cabarrus Stallions earlier in the week, as they not only got the shutout but also played error-free defense. The young Uwharrie Charter team (0-4) hurt itself with some base running blunders in the fifth that halted their best scoring threat of the game.

Sells, in his first start of the season for North Rowan (3-4, 0-0 CCC), went five solid innings, scattering three hits and fanning two.

“My curveball was working for me tonight,” the junior right hander Sells said. “And I used my fastball to throw strikes and let my defense work behind me. Our defense really came through tonight.”

North Rowan got the only run it needed in the second on singles by Brandon White and Corbin Smith wrapped around a couple of fielder’s choices. The Eagles threatened to tie the score in the top of the fifth inning when Spencer Moffitt led off with a double, and Caleb Grissom drew a walk. But both runners were thrown out by Cavaliers catcher Steven Thurston trying to steal.

“That was a bad time to make those base running mistakes,” Uwharrie coach Van Hurley said. “That was the ball game right there, but we are young and those things happen.”

An inning earlier, North Rowan cut down another potential run when Austin Long attempted to come in from second on a Noah Turbeville single. But left fielder Brandon White made a perfect line drive throw to Thurston at the plate to nail the runner by five feet.

The Cavaliers then sealed the win in the bottom of the fifth with two insurance runs. Smith led off with a double for his second hit of the game, Javin Goodine walked and Sells helped himself with an RBI groundout. A two-out booted grounder at shortstop brought in the final run to make it 3-0.

Lefty Joe Harrison came on to pitch the sixth and seventh innings for North Rowan to record the save and preserve the shutout. He allowed one hit but struck out three including the final batter of the game.

“We ran into some bad luck at the plate tonight,” North Rowan head coach Aaron Rimer said. “The strike zone was bigger than we were accustomed to, but we managed some good at bats. Sells pitched great and our defense played very well behind him.”

North will now open Central Carolinas Conference play next week against Lexington on Tuesday

 

Uwharrie Charter 000 000 0  — 0  4  1

North Rowan 010 020  x — 3  5  0

WP: Lee Sells (1-0)

Save: Joe Harrison (1)

LP: Dawson Painter