Monroe lifts Eagles to fourth round

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Nick Monroe turned on a pitch in the fourth inning Friday night, sending it flying past the left field wall at Cardinal Gibbons.  It would be all the run support the senior needed as he shut down the Crusaders lifting the Eagles to a 1-0 victory.

Eastern will now travel to Northeast Guilford Tuesday night in the fourth round of the playoffs.  Northeast survived with a ninth inning walk off homerun to sneak past Southern Lee 4-3.

Monroe held the Crusaders powerful top of the lineup in check the entire night, although Cardinal Gibbons made it interesting late.  Following a leadoff walk to start the sixth inning Gibbons bunted the lead runner to second before Monroe enduced future South Carolina Gamecock Max Shcrock into a lineout that was snagged by first baseman Ridge Eaton.  Monroe then secured a deep flyout to left fielder JT Kirby to end the inning.

After the Eagles went down in order to open the seventh Gibbons once again threatened.  After recording the first out, Monroe hit a batter who then stole second.  A groundout moved him to third, but a ground ball to second baseman Jake Wood ended the game.