MERRY HILL – There was no Lady Luck or roll of the dice for Lawrence Academy Monday as the Warriors needed extra effort in the late innings before topping Terra Ceia Christian School, 8-3, in Tarheel Independent Conference baseball action.

Senior right-hander Jarrett Harrell went the seven-inning distance to post the win for LAW. Harrell also drove in a pair of runs.

It was the first league contest Lawrence had extended beyond six innings.

“Somehow for these conference games, it’s sometimes hard to get the guys motivated,” said head coach Jason Wynne. “Friday we beat these guys at their place 10-0 so it was tough to get up for them again so soon; but mentally, no matter who we play, we’ve got to be prepared.”

Lawrence opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning off starter Austin Roscoe. Back-to-back two-out doubles by Wood Trowell and Bond Wilson produced the first run of the game. The second Warrior score came on the third two-bagger of the inning when Nixon Rascoe doubled into the gap in right centerfield. It was 2-0, Lawrence, after two innings.

Terra Ceia broke through in the top of the fourth when Quentin Van Essendelft was hit by a pitch, then came home from first base when Roscoe delivered a triple all the way to the wall in right field. Tyler Hendrix then singled up the middle to produce the tying run and when Lawrence couldn’t answer in their half of the fourth it was a 2-2 ball game.

In danger of dropping their first game of the year, and first in the TIC, Lawrence went back in front in the bottom of the fifth. Austin Wynne hit a moon-shot that fell just inside the first-base foul line, hitting the first baseman’s glove for an error. He stole second and came home on Harrell’s double. Harrell later moved to third and he scored the Warrior’s fourth run on Slade Cowan’s line drive to left field. Lawrence had re-claimed a 4-2 lead.

The Knights moved within a run of tying it in the top of the fifth when Johannes Van Essendelft scored from first on a one-out double by Roscoe. Hendrix’ single moved Roscoe to third, but Hendrix was later caught stealing at second and Harrell got strikeout to end the threat.

Hendrix relieved Roscoe in the sixth and that’s when Lawrence scored four big runs to put the game away. Rascoe opened with a single then back-to-back walks to DaQuan Wilson and Wynne loaded the bases. Harrell was plunked in the side by Hendrix bringing in one run, then a one-out walk issued to Cowan scored another. Wood Trowell then singled to right to score two more runs and the Warriors now had a five run lead.

Harrell retired the side in the seventh one-two-three to earn the win. He pitched seven innings, giving up three runs, seven hits, no walks, and striking out 17. Roscoe took the loss for Terra Ceia. He tossed five innings, allowing six runs, nine hits, and striking out eight.

Two players had half of Lawrence’s ten hits in the game: Wood Trowell with three and Nixon Rascoe with two.  Harrell, Cowan, and Trowell each drove in two runs. Lawrence also played error-free baseball once more, as Trowell made the most plays with 17.

The Knights collected seven hits. Hendrix had three hits while Johannes Van Essendelft and Roscoe each smacked two. Roscoe led Terra Ceia in RBI with two; he went 2-for-3 on the day

After a non-conference game with Pasquotank last night, Lawrence is off until the Tarboro Easter Classic beginning next Wednesday.

“We feel good going into the tournament, and I know for sure we’ll be up for it,” said coach Wynne.