Legends top Rockers 5-4 in 10 innings after bunt error, double play

A misplayed bunt in the 10th inning turned a tense game at Truist Point, and Lexington left High Point with a 5-4 win after the Rockers could not survive the smallest plays. The Legends used the automatic runner, pushed across the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt attempt that became a throwing error, then ended it with a clean 6-4-3 double play when High Point put runners on the corners with one out. The finish tied the six-game series at 2-2 and left both clubs still searching for separation in a matchup that has swung back and forth all week.

High Point struck first when Mikey Kane doubled in DJ Burt for a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Lexington answered quickly. Trayce Thompson launched a two-run homer in the second to put the Legends ahead 2-1, and the Rockers pulled even in the third when Ethan Skender was hit by a pitch, moved into scoring position, and scored on Alex Dickerson’s RBI single. High Point starter Ben Wereski settled in enough to give his club five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six.

The Rockers kept nudging back in front. Nick Longhi scored on Nolan Watson’s single in the sixth for a 3-2 edge, then High Point extended the lead to 4-3 in the seventh after Skender was hit by a pitch again and Kane drove him in with another RBI single. Lexington refused to fade, tying the game in the eighth on a sequence that included a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt, and Jerry Huntzinger’s clutch RBI single.

That set up the decisive 10th, where the first miscue belonged to High Point and the final turn belonged to Lexington. Carson Lambert earned the win to improve to 4-0 with hitless late relief, while Ryan Chasse took the loss and fell to 1-3. Xane Washington led the Legends with three hits, and High Point got two hits apiece from Watson, Kane and Dickerson, with Kane driving in two runs. The Rockers remained at 22-30, Lexington moved to 23-29, and the series continued with Matt Solter scheduled to start game five against Tyler Guilfoil.