Beast of the East Quarterfinals: Canes 4, Akadema Gray 3

The Canes overcame a season-worst seven-TAB performance to earn a 4-3 win over Akadema Gray in the Beast of the East quarterfinals in Matthews.

The offense smacked four hits in a two-run first inning, but then got just two hits the rest of the morning and were off balance most of the rest of the game. But with the bats scuffling, they were picked up by great pitching from Gavin and Chace along with several key defensive plays, including cutting a runner down at the plate in what proved to be a key moment in an eventual one-run game.

The win moves the Canes into the tournament semifinals, which begin at 2 p.m. 

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Elias singled and stole second. Gavin doubled him home, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, Akadema 0

Third inning
Gavin reached on an error. He hustled into taking two bases on a wild pitch, then scored on Chace's single.
Score after three innings: Canes 3, Akadema 0

Sixth inning
Chace was hit by a pitch and went to second on Bennett's fielder's choice. He took third on an error and scored on Macon's fielder's choice.
Score after six innings: Canes 4, Akadema 1

Pitching Performances

Gavin threw four and two-thirds shutout innings, walking just one.

Chace closed it out with excellent relief and worked through a potential jam in the seventh.

Dugout wisdom
You would be surprised how few Canes have ever heard of Ragu, or know what it is. That didn't stop Ty from composing a rap, which goes a little something like this: "I've got flavor, I've got sauce, I've got Ragu."

It sounds better with a beat behind it.

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• Asher made a couple nice plays in left holding batters to long singles. 
• Gavin bounced off the mound to scoop a slow roller and threw to first to get the first out of the second.
• With a runner on first and two outs in the third, the batter crushed a long drive down the left field line off the fence. Asher hustled over and fired in a perfect throw to Chace, who was in exactly the right spot and then turned and made a perfect throw to Macon, who put on the tag for the last out of the inning.
• Bennett came in and fielded a hopper on a short hop and threw to first for the first out of the seventh. 

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
Akadema Gray	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3
Canes	2	0	1	0	0	1	X	4