Neilan Bruce pitched a three-hit shutout and Gaige Brasher had three hits at the plate to lead Hopkins County Central to a 3-0 win over Heritage Christian Academy on Thursday in Mortons Gap.
Bruce struck out 12 and allowed just three singles, with only four HCA runners getting into scoring position.
Bruce also helped himself at the plate as a lead-off walk in the first allowed him to score on a double by freshman Brody Smith. Brasher’s first hit of the game was a first-inning single that scored Smith and gave the Storm a 2-0 lead.
Brasher doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a single by Tristan Schmaltz.
An 8th grader, Bruce picked up his first win of the season and lowered his season ERA from 8.22 to 4.43. He also doubled his season strikeout total to 24.
Ethan Miles had a pair of hits for HCA (3-12), who prepare to host the Kentucky Christian Athletic Conference State Tournament this weekend at David Eddings Field.
Hopkins County Central (4-12) has won consecutive games for the first time this season and looks for its first three-game winning streak in a year on Friday when it welcomes in Trigg County, hoping to snap a five-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
