LELAND - Chad Malpass pitched a one-hitter and recorded 11 strikeouts Tuesday night in the East Columbus Gators’ 3-0 shutuot of the host North Brunswick Scorpions in a Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference baseball game.

The win put the Gators of Coach Karl Bracey at 4-5 in the conference.

Caleb Andrews broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.

East Columbus brought in two more runs in the top of the seventh innng when Alex Sasser singled to score Allen Bracey and Laython Ward.

It was Gators second win of the season over Caoch Randy Fennell’s Scorpions, whose conference record dropped to 1-7.

East Columbus , which is vying for the top state 1A playoff position for the Waccamaw Conferece with Trask and Pender, had come within a strike of taking a big upset victory over league-leading Whiteville last Friday before Whiteville rallied to a 4-2 victory.

East Columbus will play host to county rival South Columbus Friday night at 7.

Malpass and Williamson; Child and Ruitto.