Sometimes, you only need one hit to win a game.
The Wayne/Wakefield baseball team was limited to a fifth-inning single by Tucker Nichols in their home opener Thursday at Hank Overin Field, but that would be all they would need as they scraped out a 1-0 win over Thurston-Cuming County.
The visitors outhit Wayne/Wakefield 3-1, but Wayne made the most of its single safety as Nichols stroked a one-out infield single, advanced two bases on a wild pitch, then came home on a groundout to shortstop by Payten Gamble to score what would be the only run of the game.
Wayne had a chance to score early in the game, putting two runners in scoring position after Zane Jackson was hit by a pitch and Julio Sanchez walked. Kaleb Anderson, pinch-running for Jackson, advanced to third on a wild pitch and Sanchez took second on defensive indifference, but T-C’s pitching got out of the jam to keep the game scoreless.
Thurston-Cuming County put two runners on in the third on two Wayne/Wakefield errors, then had two on in the fourth with a hit and a walk, but starting pitcher Adam Bentjen got out of both situations unscathed. He pitched five innings to get the win, striking out seven and allowing two walks and two hits. Tyler Lutt pitched two scoreless innings to get the save.
Next action for 2-3 Wayne/Wakefield is Thursday, March 30 at Crete at 4:30 p.m. They host Wahoo/Raymond Central/Lincoln Lutheran in a Saturday, April 1 doubleheader at 11 a.m.
