Saturday, April 15, 2006
TUSCULUM COMPLETES SAC BASEBALL SWEEP OF PC
CLINTON, S.C. — Tusculum senior Tim Brown (Flint, Mich.) put up five hits in both games of today’s South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to lead all batters as the Pioneers completed their three game sweep of host Presbyterian College at the PC Baseball Complex. TC took the first game 6-2 and shutout PC in game two 6-0. PC falls to 18-38, 7-14 SAC, while Tusculum improves to 35-12-1, 17-4 SAC.
Game #1 — Tusculum 6, Presbyterian 2
Tusculum College pounded out 13 hits including five doubles, while senior Kenny Lewis (Scottsville, Va.) picked up his fifth win of the season as the No. 26-ranked Pioneers defeated Presbyterian 6-2 in the first game of today’s doubleheader.
Tusculum opened the scoring in the top of third when senior Matt Riggs (Dayton, Tenn.) hit a two-RBI double scoring Brown and freshman Aaron Hudgins (Kinsport, Tenn.). The Blue Hose trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning when senior Evan Sowell (Chesterfield, S.C.) flied out to centerfield scoring redshirt freshman Preston Simpson (Lancaster, S.C.). Simpson had led off the inning with a triple.
In the fourth, the Pioneers added a run to push the lead to 3-1 as Brown scored following a Blue Hose error. PC once again trimmed lead back to one run at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from junior Kyle Craven (Savannah, Ga.). The Pioneers would add two more runs in the seventh on an RBI single by senior Greg Stotser (Columbus, Ga.) followed by a RBI double from senior Adam Beacham (Atlanta, Ga.). TC would add an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single from senior Josh Wolff (Louisville, Ky.).
Lewis went five and one-third innings, allowing two runs, one earned on five hits with four strikeouts, while at the plate, Brown went three-for-three with three runs scored, while Wolf went three-for-four at the plate for Tusculum.
PC’s starting pitcher, sophomore Andrew Cockerham (Millers Creek, N.C.) took the loss to fall to 4-4 on the season after going six innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on eight hits. Craven led the Blue Hose offense with a two-for-four performance at the plate, while Simpson and Sowell added a run scored apiece.
Game #2 — Tusculum 6, Presbyterian 0
Tusculum and Presbyterian each posted six hits apiece, but, Tusculum took advantage of four Blue Hose errors to take the second game of today’s doubleheader 6-0.
Tusculum came out swinging scoring the first run of the game in the first when senior Skip Talarek (Great Falls, Va.) hit into a fielders choice and scored Wolff who had reached on a fielding error by the pitcher.
In the third, Tusculum improved their lead 4-0 when they took advantage of three Blue Hose errors to put batters in scoring position. Tusculum only recorded one hit in the third inning but were able to score three runs.
Talarek picked up two of his three RBI’s when he flied out to blue Hose freshman Cory Lyda (Simpsonville, S.C.) in left field.
Tusculum’s starting pitcher Michal Handley (Dulluth, Ga.) threw five complete innings, struck out four Blue Hose batters, gave up four hits and no runs to pick up his fifth win of the season. At the plate, Brown and freshman Aaron Hudgins (Kinsport, Tenn.) each posted two hits to lead the Pioneers.
Lyda and sophomore Russell Robinson (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) each put up two hits to lead the Blue Hose at the plate. PC starting pitcher Steven Henry (Hoschton, Ga.) pitched a complete seven innings giving up only two earned runs on six hits from the Pioneers. Henry falls to 4-4 for the season.
The Blue Hose and the Pioneers will both participate in the 2006 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament in Greenville, Tenn. next weekend.