Ernest Sinkfield needed very little time to make the adjustment from shooting jumpers in the Edward Tullis Arena to pitching at Mirmow Field.

Sinkfield -- a key contributor for the Claflin basketball team -- scattered six hits while striking out six and walking one in his first game on the mound to help the Panthers (15-15) crush the Hornets (0-7) 16-1 in five innings.

The Panthers began their hit parade in the first inning. Following a lead-off walk by Eric Jordan and a single by Rafael Outler, Reggie Taylor cleared the bases with an RBI single to take the early 2-0 lead. Taylor advanced to third thanks to an error in left by Lionel Mann on the same play. After Taylor scored Claflin's third run, Wes Platts hit a solo home run to make it a 4-0 game. The Panthers finished the first inning with seven runs on six hits.

"We've been swinging the bats good all year," Claflin head coach James Randall said. "That has really given us a chance to win some games this year. We're really proud of how our guys have swung the bats."

Claflin put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI single to right by Shannon Ransom and a two-RBI double off the right field wall by Paul Carpenter giving Sinkfield more than enough run support heading into the third.

"I just wanted to make pitches and make strikes," Sinkfield said as he iced his shoulder. "My catcher called a great game. These are a great group of guys. I had nothing to worry about."

Originally, Randall didn't want to start Sinkfield. However, his decision to put the swingman-turned-starting pitcher on the mound worked out.

"He helped us out a lot," Randall said. "I was able to rest a couple of guys that I planned to pitch today. We've got a big series this weekend with Tuskegee. So, we're going in really healthy to play them this weekend. It was a tremendous lift for him to come in and do as well as he did today."

Claflin capped off its offensive onslaught with a six-run fourth inning which included a solo home run by Trivon Howard and a three-run homer by Taylor.

With this win, Randall hopes that his team can carry this momentum throughout the rest of the season.

"I'm going to be honest with you," he said. "I want us to make a run in our last games of the year. I expect that. I'm not looking for us to lose another game. We've played a tough schedule. Now, it's time for us to put a streak together. Hopefully, this win can help us steamroll into the conference (mathcup) this weekend and we can go right on through the rest of our schedule."

-- T&D Sports Writer Emery Glover can be reached by e-mail at eglover@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532. Check out his blog, Cover 2, at www.thetandd.com. --

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