Wednesday,
March 10, 2004
BLUE
HOSE CRUISE PAST CRUSADERS 12-6 IN BASEBALL ACTION
CLINTON,
S.C. — Presbyterian College pounded out 12 runs on 16 hits
and sophomore pitcher Robert
Cole (Savannah, Ga.) picked up his first win of the
season as the Blue Hose defeated Belmont Abbey College 12-6 in
baseball action Wednesday afternoon at the PC Baseball
Complex.
Presbyterian (8-11) opened
the game with a four-run first inning highlighted by an RBI
triple from senior outfielder Kevin
White (Spartanburg, S.C.) followed by RBI singles from
senior third baseman Curtis Bell (Gilbert, S.C.) and junior
first baseman Jake
Lunnen (Sylva, N.C.).
The Blue Hose lead
increased to 6-0 in the second inning after Bell connected on
a two-run homer to leftfield. Belmont Abbey got on the
scoreboard in the top of third when senior third baseman Matt
Waldron (Jacksonville, Fla.) connected on an RBI-single to
score freshman shortstop Josh
Haire (Mooresville, N.C.).
The lead increased to 9-1
in the fourth as Lunnen connected on a two-RBI single followed
by an RBI-single from junior outfielder Robbie
Parrish (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). The Crusaders trimmed
the lead to 9-3 in the top of the sixth when senior designated
hitter Chris Stone (Lexington,
N.C.) hit an RBI-double. PC added three insurance runs in the
bottom of the inning as Lunnen stole home and freshman
shortstop John
Berrian (Lexington, S.C.) hit a fielder’s choice to
score Parrish. Belmont Abbey added three runs in the seventh
and eighth innings to cut the lead to 12-6 on RBI-singles from
Waldron and Haire.
PC’s Cole pitched five
solid innings allowing one earned run on four hits while
striking out five batters to pick up the win. The Crusaders’
starting pitcher freshman lefthander Jason
Cline (Stanley, N.C.) took the loss after going three
innings allowing eight earned runs on eight hits to fall to
1-4 on the season.
At the plate, PC was led by
Lunnen who went three-for-five with two runs scored and four
RBI while freshman designated hitter Ben
Tankersley (Evans, Ga.) went two-for-four with three
runs scored. White went three-for-five with one RBI and two
runs scored while Bell went two-for-three with a two-run homer
.
Belmont Abbey (5-22) was
led by Waldron who went four-for-five at the plate with two
RBI and one run scored while Haire was a perfect four-for-four
at the plate with two runs scored.
The Blue Hose will play
their final tune-up game before Spring Break tomorrow when
they host Fairmont State University at 2:30 pm. PC will head
to the state of Hawaii for Spring Break where they will take
on Hawaii-Pacific University for a trio of doubleheaders
starting on Monday, March 15. The Crusaders return to action
this weekend when they host Longwood University for a
three-game series starting on Saturday.