Baseball: Gators Force Deciding Game on Saturday with 10-0 Shutout of Sumter

River Bluff's baseball team played their way back home with a 10-0 win over Sumter on Friday night in the District 4 bracket of the SCHSL AAAAA-Division I Lower State playoffs.

River Bluff jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mason Iser hit a line drive to center field, scoring Dominick Norton and Walker Godwin.

Then, in the second, Norton slugged a three-run homer to increase the Gators' lead to 5-0.

River Bluff added another run in the fifth on an Ab Wilkerson single that brought Iser home.

The Gators unloaded in their final at-bat, scoring four runs to take a 10-0 lead into the bottom half of the seventh. Wilkerson got the scoring started in the seventh, laying down a bunt to score Ashley Powell. Banks Alexander singled next, bringing in Mac Raines. Then, Walker picked up a walk with the bases loaded, which brought Wilkerson across the plate. The tenth run came on a Sam Turner sacrifice fly, scoring Alexander.

While the bats were hot for the Gators, the highlight might very well be the story from the bump. Ray Kastner started on the mound for the Gators and proceeded to throw a gem, silencing Sumter in a complete game shutout. The senior southpaw struck out eleven and gave up only two hits in seven scoreless innings.

The Gators and Gamecocks will square off one last time with the winner advancing to the Lower State Championship series against the team that emerges from District 3. After five straight road games in this postseason, River Bluff will return to the friendly confines of their home field for Saturday's matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Gators at the plate: