Sunday,
March 17, 2002
TUSCULUM
BASEBALL AVOIDS THE SWEEP BY PRESBYTERIAN WINNING GAME THREE
10-8
Michael Holt
makes a diving catch to save the game for Tusculum in the
ninth inning
CLINTON,
SC – With two outs,
runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth inning,
Tusculum’s Michael Holt (Jefferson City, TN) makes a
diving catch towards the right field line to end the game and
preserve a 10-8 win for the Pioneers.
Tusculum improves to 14-12, 3-3 SAC while the Blue Hose
fall to 12-16, 4-2 SAC.
Tusculum scored two runs in the first, three runs in the second, and a single run in the third to take a 6-0 lead on Presbyterian. Senior first baseman Casey Taylor (Clinton, TN), freshman designated hitter George Hanger (Stauton, VA), Holt, and senior second baseman Trevor Adams (Morth Bay, Ontario) all had RBI singles in the first three innings.
The Blue Hose responded with two runs in the bottom of the third inning highlighted by an RBI single through the left side by sophomore right fielder Kevin White (Spartanburg, SC) and an RBI walk by senior left fielder Keagan Broussard (Virginia Beach, VA).
In the fifth inning, Presbyterian cut the lead to 6-3 on a solo homerun down the right field line by junior first baseman Matt Warren (Lexington, SC).
The Blue Hose scored two more runs in the seventh inning as sophomore designated hitter Heath McCutcheon (Newberry, SC) had an RBI on a fielder’s choice and junior catcher Kenny Campbell (Roswell, GA) had an RBI single through the left side to make the score 6-5 Pioneers.
In the eighth, each team scored a run. Tusculum senior third baseman Jose’ Martinez (Caracas, Venezula) had an RBI double down the left field line and Presbyterian’s senior centerfielder Chris Turco (Roswell, GA) singled and later came around to score on a wild pitch to make the score 7-6.
In the ninth, Tusculum exploded for three insurance runs as junior catcher Doug Hering (Okeana, OH), McMahon, and Holt all had RBI’s to extend the lead to 10-6. Presbyterian would answer back in the bottom of the ninth as freshman pinch hitter Jordan Taylor (Iron Mountain, MI) had a base loaded two-RBI double down the left field line to cut the Pioneer lead to 10-8. That was as close as the Blue Hose would get in the ninth as the game ended with Holt’s catch.
Getting the win for Tusculum was freshman pitcher Kenny Lewis (Scottsville, TN) as he went two innings of relief work allowing one run on two hits and striking out two batters. Lewis came in for junior starting pitcher Justin Clark (West River, MD) who exited the game after throwing three plus innings allowing two runs on three hits and walking five batters. Junior Jason Davis (Ashland, KY) came in to close out the game in the ninth. He went two-thirds of an inning to record his second save of the season.
Presbyterian’s junior starting pitcher Kurt Hitzeman (Americas, GA) falls to 2-3 on the season allowing five runs on five hits in just one and one-third innings. Sophomore pitcher Travis Hill (Rock Hill, SC) threw six and one-third innings allowing two runs on three hits. Freshman Jake Lunnen (Sylva, NC) threw two-thirds of an inning allowing three runs on two hits.
Leading the way at the plate for the Blue Hose was White (5-for-5, RBI, run scored), and Warren (2-for-5, HR, 2 runs scored, RBI). Senior left fielder Victor Puentes (Stafford, VA), Martinez, Holt, and Hanger all had two hits on the day for the Pioneers.