The Orange baseball team emerged undefeated from this week’s Hilltop Invitational. On Wednesday night, freshman Ben Knowles delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single in the sixth inning as Orange defeated Voyager Academy 10-8 at Orange Baseball Field. Knowles hit .375 with four RBIs and two runs scored over three games in the Hilltop. He was called up to the varsity last week for the two-game series against Carrboro after two players were injured. Junior Kayden Bradsher delivered the first home run of his career in the fourth inning. With Orange trailing 6-2, Bradsher sent a three-run blast over the left field power alley. The Hilltop Invitational was Bradsher’s return to action after missing the opening eleven games due to injury. Junior J.P. Rodio hit his first home run in an Orange uniform. Rodio had a two-run wall scraper to left field to reduce the Voyager lead to 4-2 in the third inning. Rodio also earned the win on the mound, throwing three innings with four strikeouts. Junior Oliver Van Tiem went 3-for-3 against the Vikings, including a RBI triple to drive in Rodio in the fourth. Van Tiem added a single in the sixth as the Panthers scored four runs to take the lead. Orange will return to Big 7 Conference action with a trip to South Granville on Tuesday.
