Thursday, March 11, 2004
THE BLUE HOSE WIN 9-8 IN EXTRA INNINGS OVER FAIRMONT STATE
CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College scored two runs in the bottom of the eleventh to defeat Fairmont State College 9-8 in extra innings at the Presbyterian Baseball Complex today.
The Blue Hose improve to 9-11 on the season while the Falcons fall to 4-8 on the year.
Presbyterian opened the game by scoring two runs. Senior Kevin White (Spartanburg, SC) scored on an error by the Falcons shortstop and senior Curtis Bell (Gilbert, SC) was batted in on an double by first baseman Jake Lunnen (Sylva, NC) for a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Hose made the game 3-0 on Bell's single that drove in junior Robbie Parrish (Myrtle Beach, SC).
Fairmont State would tie the game in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, junior Nick Pleyo (Odenton, MD) singled to drive in Sam Coakely (Danville, WV), and George Laase (Martins Ferry, OH) for two runs. Sophomore Nick Simmons (Brandywine, WV) also singled to score Mike Burke (Elliot City, MD) to tie the game at 3-3.
The Falcons took the lead in the top of the sixth by scoring two runs. The inning was highlighted by Luis Cordero's (Alderson, WV) base hit that scored Jim Medina (Shinnston, WV) to go up 5-3.
PC would recover though when White blasted a two run homer to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth.
Entering the bottom of the eight inning, the Falcons were holding a slim 7-5 lead. However, PC managed to score two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to tie the game at 7-7. Senior Philip Hauserman (Decatur, GA) had a pinch hit sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored sophomore Nick Hoffner (Elliot City, MD).
Tied at 7-7, the game entered extra innings. In the top of the eleventh, Fairmont State was able to score one run to take the lead 8-7. The Blue Hose rallied though in the bottom half of the inning with Parrish's base hit that scored Donald Sheppard (Sylvania, GA) to tie the game. Then with two outs and a full count, Ben Tankersley (Evans, GA) popped a ball up that the Falcons missed judge and enabled Parrish to score the game winning run, 9-8.
PC's White picked up his third win on the year pitching for the Blue Hose while Nathaniel Duffield (Clay, WV) picked up the loss for the Falcons.
The Blue Hose return to action Monday, March 15th in Honolulu, HI to play Hawaii-Pacific University (March 15-17) in a six game series. The Falcons return to action Saturday against Findlay.