On a night where the temperature dipped in to the low 40’s, Goshen’s bats got hot to power the Eagles past cross-county rival Pike County. The Eagles (3-0) and Bulldogs (0-5) swapped the lead in the middle innings, but Goshen was able to get more runs down the stretch, ultimately winning 12-6.

Goshen struck first, in the top of the first, when Bryant Stephens ripped a double down the left field line that brought home Carlton Bean. The Eagles would add to their lead in the third inning on another Stephens’ double that allowed Tyler Phillips to scamper home.

The top four batters in the Goshen lineup went a combined 6-12, and scored nine of the Eagles’ 12 runs. Goshen head coach Robby Kinsaul feels that the top of the lineup carried the team during the game.

“The top of the order kicked it off tonight,” said Kinsaul. “But other times it will be the bottom or the middle that gets things going. I love this team. They fight hard but we just have to be a little smarter at times.”

Pike County battled back to answer the Eagles in the bottom half of the third. The Bulldogs took advantage of a hit batter, walk and multiple Goshen errors to plate five runs in the inning. Steven Rodgers delivered a frozen-rope shot down the left field line to score Jerrell Lawson and Tony Vaznian.

Goshen answered the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth on a single to left by Phillips. Bean and Rhett Lolley came across the dish to give the Eagles the lead back.

Pike County would tie the game in the bottom part of the fourth when Stevie Smiley came home after the Goshen infield committed three errors on one play.

Pike County head coach Kyle Davis said the Bulldogs are making strides in the right direction as the young season gets going.

“We got some runs in tonight and some key hits when we needed them,” said Davis. “We didn’t keep the pressure on them when we got the lead in the middle part of the ball game. I don’t know what happened late, but I am very proud of the kids for the way they battled to the end. Good things are coming for this team, I feel.”

Goshen would pull away from the Bulldogs through the later innings, and notch the season sweep with the 12-6 win.

Kinsaul said the game was not as easy as the final score indicated.

“It was rather adventurous for us tonight,” said Kinsual. “I told them I would rather win ugly than lose pretty any day. We still have a lot to work on. We got our 3-0 start, and have to keep building on it.”

Phillips led Goshen at the plate going 2-3 with three RBI and scoring three runs. Stephens was 2-3 batting with two doubles and two RBI, and Bean notched a triple and scored four runs.

Pike County was led at the plate by Kyle Lewis, who went 1-2 and scored two runs.

Stephens picked up the win for Goshen after coming in to the game out of the bullpen. Stephens went four innings, struck out six and gave up just one hit. Lewis is saddled with the loss for Pike County.

Goshen will be back in action today against Red Level, while the Bulldogs will take some time off and not play again until March 7 against Geneva County.