Parkersburg sophomore Parker Woods (25) smiles after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of Friday’s game with Woodrow Wilson at Bennet Stump Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — Woodrow Wilson provided an eye-opening experience only to have Parkersburg supply an even more impressive response.

Friday at Bennett Stump Field, the Big Reds extended their winning streak to four straight games after defeating the Flying Eagles 12-2 in five innings.

After Woodrow Wilson’s third batter of the game, Gage Price, hit a two-run homer, PHS starting pitcher Connor Elkins recovered nicely by turning in shutout baseball over the final 4 â…” innings. Elkins scattered six hits and struck out two while throwing a complete game.

“I can’t leave balls like that — it was down the middle, so I have to move the ball around the zone,” Elkins said. “I knew I had to start throwing strikes again, and I was able to keep it out of the middle. I started painting the corners because the ump was giving me more than I probably should have gotten.

In the home half of the first inning, PHS answered Woodrow Wilson’s opening salvo with a major one of its own. With one out, Parker Woods took a pitch deep enough just inside the foul pole, which read 311 feet, for a solo homer.

Parkersburg starting pitcher Connor Elkins delivers a pitch during Friday’s 12-2 win over Woodrow Wilson at Bennett Stump Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Their guy putting one out over our net was pretty shocking, so I knew I had to come back and get our boys back in this ballgame,” said Woods. “Sometimes when we get down early, we kind of lose our focus. So I wanted to kind of snap us back into it.

“Their pitcher was a little sidearm, so I knew he would have a good breaking ball. That’s what I was sitting on for the first pitch and thankfully I got it. It was fair by not much. I hit it about 312 feet right there by the pole.”

The offensive feast had now commenced for the Big Reds, which improved to 12-9. Woodrow Wilson pitcher Aiden Scarbrough walked the next three hitters and Jaxon Myers laced a two-run single. An infield error allowed a fourth Big Red to score, and a fourth walk in the inning meant the end of the day for Scarbrough after just 29 pitches.

Hitting out of the No. 9 slot of the order, CJ Carrodus executed a sacrifice bunt which resulted in a pair of runs scoring.

“As a coaching staff we were talking — the fundamentals have gotten better throughout the season,” PHS coach Alan Burns said. “We have worked on fundamentals a lot this year and it’s starting to pay off now.”

Parkersburg first baseman Gavin Fling, right, awaits the throw from the pitcher as a Woodrow Wilson baserunner slides back into the bag during Friday’s game at Bennett Stump Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Price, who entered in relief with one out in the first inning, did enjoy his share of success after striking out six of the eight outs he recorded. Unfortunately, the tail end of his appearance did not bode well.

With PHS in front 7-2 in the fourth inning, Woods, Chaz Elam and Elkins opened with consecutive singles and led to another Big Red run. Woodrow Wilson went to a third pitcher after Tyler Cameron kept the line moving with a walk that loaded the bases.

With one out, Cole Sisk drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. A second Woodrow Wilson error combined with a wild pitch increased the gap to 11-2.

Elkins worked out of a pickle in the fifth inning which put another zero on the board for the Flying Eagles (4-19). With two outs and runners at second and third, the next batter worked a full count before PHS shortstop Chaz Elam fielded a routine grounder and threw to first to retire the side.

“Connor did a great job of pitching — he didn’t let the home run bother him,” Burns said.

Parkersburg batter Evan Schultheis backs away from an inside pitch during Friday’s game against Woodrow Wilson at Bennett Stump Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

With temperatures dipping into the 40s, the PHS offense took care of business quickly in the home half of the fifth inning. Gavin Flinn walked and advanced to third as Woods worked the hit-and-run to perfection.

“The good thing is that Parker is really young,” Burns laughed. “He is only a sophomore and you have to love that. But he is a really good player. He’s a student of the game. He loves the game of baseball and he has a good future ahead of him.”

Combined with his 4-for-4 effort at the plate on Friday, Woods has seven hits in his last eight at bats.

“Down at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, I had two strikeouts — me and my dad just kind of went back into the grind and nailed a couple of things,” Woods said. “The ball is looking like a beach ball. I just hope I can continue and stay humble.”

With runners at the corners and still nobody out, Luke Eagle was sent out to pinch hit. On the very first pitch he saw, he lifted a fly ball to center field for a walk-off sacrifice fly. Eagle took the brunt of the dog pile in celebration of the win.

Woodrow Wilson’s Gage Price, far left, celebrates with teammates following his two-run home run, Friday against Parkersburg at Bennett Stump Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We are just glad to see Luke get the job done,” Woods said. “He’s a dog. He grinds it in practice. He would be starting on any other team – he just keeps his head up.”

At Bennett Stump Field

WP: Connor Elkins 5.0IP 6H 2R 2BB 2SO

LP: Aiden Scarbrough 0.1IP 2H 6R 4BB 2SO

Gage Price 2.2IP 4H 4R 2BB 6SO

Parker Williams 1.1IP 1H 2R 1BB 1SO

Leading hitters

Woorow Wilson (4-19): Will Parrish 1-3, run; Aiden Scarbrough 1-3, SB; Gage Price 2-2, run, HR, 2 RBIs; Drew Gallhaer 1-3; Joe Bernard 1-2

PHS (12-9): Parker Woods 4-4, 3 runs, HR, RBI, 3 SBs; Chaz Elam 1-2, 2 runs, RBI; Luke Eagle RBI; Gavin Fling run; Jaxon Myers 1-2, run, 2 RBIs; Cole Sisk 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 SBs

Next game: Parkersburg at Grafton/University, 10 a.m./1 p.m. (Saturday