Eagles defeat Armuchee at Rome Braves' stadium

Excel Christian Academy’s bats came alive Friday night as the Eagles picked up their first win of the year, defeating Armuchee 11-4 at State Mutual Stadium in Rome — home of the Class A affiliate Rome Braves.

ECA scored nine runs in the first three innings and took advantage of some solid pitching to distance themselves early from the Indians.

An RBI single by Joseph Cuomo, an Armuchee error, an RBI single by Dylan Drew, and a two-run hit by Jordan Wilkie got the Eagles on the scoreboard early.

Michael Duncan added a two-run single in the second inning to push Excel’s lead to 7-0.

The Eagles added four more runs with two each in the third and the sixth.

Two runs scored in the third on just one hit by Trace Still. Wilkie walked and later scored on an error. Still scored on a groundout.

In the sixth, Cuomo singled and later scored on another Armuchee miscue. Wyatt Karlovich reached on an error, stole second, and eventually came around to score on the Indians fifth error of the game.

Wilkie started on the mound for Excel and worked two shutout innings. He allowed a pair of hits and a walk while striking out three. Blaine Belisario (3.2 IP, 4R, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 5K) and Levi Blackwell (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) pitched the final five innings for the Eagles in relief.

Cuomo finished with three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored. Duncan drove in two runs with a hit and scored a run. Still, Karlovich, Belisario, Drew, and Wilkie (2 RBI) had the other Excel hits.

Excel (1-3) hosts North Cobb Christian Saturday (Mar 5) at 5pm and will travel to Mount Paran Christian Monday (Mar 7) for a 4:30pm start.