Commanders break open close game with Walter J. late

Friendship Christian broke a tie with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and broke the game open with four in the sixth in a 10-3 win over visiting Walter J. Baird on Tuesday.
The Blue Devils had just tied the score 3-3 in the top of the fifth when Friendship's Turner Haddock, who went 4-for-4, doubled in the bottom half. Pinch runner Ian Putman scored on a triple to the left-field wall by winning pitcher Dylan Boyd. Catcher Connor Gaines followed with a blast off the 360 sign in center field. His courtesy runner, Ryan McNeilly, came home on Cameron Hill's sacrifice fly.
Overall, Drew Erie wielded the big stick with five RBI on a two-run double in the third [putting Friendship in front 3-2] and a three-run double in the sixth as the Commanders climbed to 7-2.
Boyd, who also drove in a run on a groundout, allowed three unearned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight in the full seven innings.
Chris Hall had a pair of singles for Friendship while Corey Potter and Hunter Anderson each added one.
Losing pitcher Trevin Potter and Michael Molina managed RBI singles for Baird. Skylar Beckerman and Cain Sloan doubled while Jack Partlow and Caleb Gibson singled as the Blue Devils dropped to 5-3.
Potter surrendered five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on eight hits and a walk while fanning four as he fell to 2-2. Sloan recorded the final two outs.
Both teams will play double headers Saturday. Baird will host Cornerstone for a 2 p.m. twin bill. Friendship will travel to Nashville's Seven Oaks Park for an 11:30 a.m. Middle Tennessee Baseball Conference pair with West End Middle.