From staff reports

GRANITE QUARRY — East Rowan won a tough game with Northwest Cabarrus at Staton Field on Tuesday and moved a step closer to clinching the conference championship.

The Mustangs (16-1, 11-1) scored three runs in the sixth to rally for a 3-2 South Piedmont Conference victory over the Trojans, who got a great effort on the mound from Cooper Greene.

Greene is the son of former Salisbury player Andrew Greene.

Alex Walker and Landon Finley led the offense for the Trojans. The visitors scored a run in the second against East starter Harrison Ailshie and got another in the top of the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. Cobb Hightower relieved Ailshie with one out in the sixth.

Ailshie, McCall Henderson and Krys Hernandez drove in runs for the Mustangs in the seventh. Hernandez singled through the left side to plate McCall with the decisive run.

Hightower closed the door on the Trojans (7-11, 6-6) in the seventh.

East had won 16-5 at Northwest early in the season.

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CONCORD — West Rowan had to battle for a 10-6 SPC win at Central Cabarrus on Tuesday.

The Falcons had footballed the Vikings 14-0 in Mount Ulla, but Central has improved some in recent weeks.

West was cruising 6-0 behind Corbin Bailey going to the bottom of the third, but the Vikings got three in the third and two in the fourth to get back to 6-5.

Bailey made it through four innings for the win, striking out eight and walking five.

West (12-4, 7-4) got some breathing room with a three-run fifth and got good relief from Alex Hagler for two innings and Cole Blevins for one.

Gage Scruggs had two hits for the Falcons. Maddox Moore scored three runs.

Scruggs, Moore, Drew Burton and Luke Ponczka drove in two runs each.

Freshman Bryson Pate hit a home run for Central (3-12, 1-11).

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CONCORD — South Rowan used an eight-run second inning to take an 8-1 SPC win at Concord on Tuesday.

Corbin Goodman, Drew Blackwell and Corbin Cross drove in two runs apiece in the big inning.

Logan Ballard, Colton Helms and Carter Rohletter did well on the mound for the Raiders (9-8, 5-6) and combined for nine strikeouts.

Marshal Faw and Cross had two hits.

Conner Coy, Goodman, Drew Pegram, Cross and Rohletter had doubles.

Grayson Daniels had two hits for the Spiders (3-12, 2-8).

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HARRISBURG — Carson lost 6-3 at Hickory Ridge in a non-conference game played on Tuesday.

Carson (9-8) got off to a good start with two runs in the first inning.

It was 3-all going to the bottom of the fifth. That’s when the Bulls put together a decisive three-run inning.

Hickory Ridge (10-6) out-hit the Cougars 10-6.

Caden Lewis had three of Carson’s eight hits and drove in two runs.

Will Bradshaw had two hits and scored twice. Bradshaw’s double was the only extra-base hit for the Cougars.

Kendal Sifford pitched two innings. Gage Trexler pitched three innings. Drew Young pitched one.

Carson made two errors, but also turned a double play.

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LEXINGTON — Salisbury mauled Lexington 16-2 and 16-1 in Tuesday’s doubleheader.

The Hornets had a seven-run third and an eight-run fifth in the first game.

In the second game, the Hornets (6-9, 5-5) settled it quickly with a 13-run outburst in the first inning.

Cole Price and Ben Young earned the wins on the mound.

Price, Mike Geter and Evan Koontz had the biggest offensive days.

“They were on base all day,” Salisbury coach Carson Herndon said.

The Yellow Jackets (0-11, 0-7) collected three hits in each game.

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North Rowan is scheduled to play West Davidson on Wednesday.

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TROUTMAN — South Iredell only got five hits but beat A.L. Brown 11-7 in a Greater Metro Conference game on Tuesday.

The Vikings took advantage of 10 walks, two HBPs and three errors.