CATAWISSA R.R. - A day after being roughed up in the first inning of an 11-1 loss to Bloomsburg, Southern Columbia pitcher John Wilson had his 'A' game going against Montgomery Wednesday.
Wilson scattered seven hits in 6.2 innings, struck out 12 batters and walked three to lead the Tigers (13-4 overall, 11-2 Heartland Division III) to a 7-4 win over the Red Raiders (11-7, 7-6).
Wilson needed some help in the seventh inning, when Montgomery scored three runs off him with some help from shaky Tiger defense, but Blake Marks struck out Jake Miller to end the game.
"John gave us a great game," Southern coach Randy Young
said. "We had him on a pretty strict pitch count because he pitched yesterday, and their guys were starting to get a little better at-bats against him after seeing him for the third time in the order."
Southern went into the seventh with a 7-1 lead but Zach Shadle beat out an infield single, stole second and came around to score when Southern catcher Mitch Stanziale uncorked a wide throw to first after Wilson struck out Ray Farr but the ball got past Stanziale. Wilson struck out the next two batters but leadoff hitter Keanu Savers singled in Farr and advanced on the first of two misplays in the Southern outfield after hits. Tom Goetz followed with a single to and advanced on a misplay, and Marcus Bartlett singled in another run.
Marks came in to relieve and got the final out.
The Tigers didn't rip the cover off the ball, with just four hits, but used good baserunning to solid advantage.
Southern took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, when Montgomery starter Miller walked three of the first five batters, with all of them scoring. Marks had a run-scoring double and Nate Hunter a sacrifice fly. Wilson walked and courtesy runner Cameron Young stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball and wild pitch.
The best baserunning came from Zach Tillett in the fourth inning. After doubling off reliever Dillon Gordon, who was very effective, Tillett took a running lead from second, flustering Gordon into a balk. He then stole home on a low pitch to the plate.
"He didn't do that on his own," Young said. "That's a play we use from time to time. Zach is a kid who can really fly."
The Tigers added to the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, as well. Matt Lupold doubled in the fifth and scored on a single by Hunter, and Steve Toczylousky reached base on an error and eventually scored on a grounder by Kyle Mostik in the sixth.
"We needed this after yesterday," Young said. "It was a good win against a good opponent."