The big rally came after the Eagles’ Chris Bryant hit a three-run homer in the top of the inning to wipe out a 3-1 Viking lead. The win improves the Vikings to 4-3 in the Cape Fear Valley Conference (7-5 overall), ending a three-game losing streak in league play.
Bryan Collins pitched the first five innings for the home team, picking up his fourth win in six decisions. Carson McLean, who went three for four with four RBIs, pitched the last two, giving up a seventh-inning grand slam to the Eagles’ Alex Moss.
The conference win was the Vikings’ first since March 23. They defeated East Montgomery 10-9 in a non-conference game on Wednesday. But on Thursday, some of the veterans on the team decided it was time to have a meeting.
“We were having some problems,” McLean said later, “and we had a team meeting yesterday to kind of get everybody hustling — to get out of showing a losing attitude. We talked about cutting down on the strikeouts and putting the ball in play — making the other team play ‘D.’”
After the visitors picked up a run in the first, the Vikings scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings. Bryant’s four-bagger put the Eagles in front 4-3 in the fifth, testing the Vikings’ resolve.
Collins led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. One out later, Matt Key also walked and Josh Davis reached base on an error, loading the bases. An infield pop up to the pitcher by Yorke Sweat was dropped, but he was ruled out on the infield fly rule.
McLean then lofted a short fly ball that the center fielder caught up to, but couldn’t hold, dropping for a single. With two outs and all of the runners in motion, the hit cleared the bases, putting the Vikings ahead 6-4.
Sam Buie then ripped a triple down the left-field line, scoring McLean. The inning continued, helped by two more Eagle errors, with the Vikings scoring three more times. The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the sixth, making it 12-4.
The visitors loaded the bases with none out in the seventh against McLean. The Viking right-hander struck out the next two batters before Moss cleared the bases with a liner over the fence in left.
McLean was asked if the grand slam, off a waste pitch, spoiled any of the enjoyment of the win and his good night with the bat.
“It almost did,” he said with a chuckle. “It was like the worst thing I’ve ever seen. The pitch was about three feet over his head and he tomahawked it out.”
The Vikings out-hit the Eagles 12 to seven. Sweat, Buie and Drew Robinson each had two hits for the home team. Robinson and catcher Nick Cameron drove in two runs apiece.
The win keeps the Vikings in the thick of things for one of the two automatic state playoff spots allocated to the conference. Before Friday night, South Johnston was unbeaten in league games and Harnett Central and Triton were each sitting with two losses.
“I think some good things came out of the meeting — resetting some goals — showing some leadership,” Union Pines coach Scott Blue said. “It was totally on them.
“It was a big boost for us to hit the ball the way we did tonight.”
Union Pines entertains Overhills in a league contest at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. In Friday night’s first game, the Viking jayvee team defeated Western Harnett 9-1 to improve to 3-2 in the conference and 6-4 for all games.
