By By Lori Dann
Advance Managing Editor
Escambia Academy posted just one win in its three outings last week, but both losses came against quality opponents.
EA started the week on a positive note with a 9-1 win over Monroe.as Justin Beasley picked up his first win on the mound.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars scored got on the board in the second on Steven Donaldson's two-run double. Rob Mosley added an RBI single I the third to up the lead to 3-0.
Brit Ikner singled and Brnadon James was hit by a pitch to start the fourth inning, and both runners eventually scored for a 5-0 advantage. Singles by Ben Hardy, Mosley, Ikner and James plated three more runs, and EA rounded out its scoring on James' RBI double in the seventh.
Beasley appeared to be headed for a shutout on the mound, but Monroe was awarded a run in the sixth inning when a play at second base was overruled. Beasley went the distance, striking out seven while allowing six hits.
Offensively, Ikner was 3-for-3 with three runs; James and Mosley were both 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run; and Hardy, Hall and Donaldson added one hit each.
On Friday, EA faced a tough Mobile Christian team and saw first-hand why they are so difficulty to beat. Early on, however, the Cougars were playing well, leading 3-2 after three innings of play.
Josh Davis scored EA's first run in the second inning when he doubled and came home on an error. Hardy doubled to start the third inning, followed by a single from Ikner. Both runners scored on a single by James to put the Cougars on top.
But the rest of the game was all Mobile Christian as they rolled to an 18-4 win.
The Cougars' biggest downfall in the loss was defense. Trip Dawson pitched five strong innings but was victimized by a number of errors behind him.
Offensive leaders in that game were Davis, who was 2-for-3 with two runs; James, 1-for-3 with two RBI; Hardy, Ikner and Mosley, all 1-for-3; and Mark Hall, 1-for-1.
The Cougars closed the week with a narrow 6-4 loss to powerful Fort Dale in nine innings. Facing a pitching staff which is sending three players to the collegiate level n one to Auburn, one to Mississippi State and another to Troy State n EA scratched out a pair of early runs and then scored two more late to send the game into extra innings.
Davis reached on an error in the first inning and scored on a fielder's choice by Ikner. Daniel Sirmon doubled and eventually scored the Cougars' second run in the fourth inning.
Trailing 4-2 going into the final inning, EA rallied to tie the game when Davis and Hardy both walked, followed by a Mosley single and an error.
Fort Dale was able to pull out the win in the ninth, however.
Donaldson went all nine innings for the Cougars, scattering nine hits and seven walks while strijking out six.
EA had just four hits in the game, one each from Mosley, Sirmon, Dawson and Michael Cannon.