Sunday, March 18, 2007
Blue Hose Claim Series Finale With Newberry
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Blue Hose
defeated the Indians of Newberry College 9-7 in South
Atlantic Conference action and claimed the series finale on
Sunday afternoon at Greenville Municipal Stadium in
Greenville, S.C.
Newberry got on the board in the first inning without the
benefit of a hit. After junior Tyler Manasa was struck by a
pitch from Blue Hose starter Jesse Harmon, Manasa advanced
all the way to third when a harmless pick-off throw escaped
Josh Milner's grasp and rolled into foul territory.
On third with one out, Manasa had to stay put on a Scott
Horvath strikeout. Harmon then walked David Tunstill. With
Matt Awtrey at the plate, Tunstill took off for second. The
instant Blue Hose catcher Kemper Booth released a throw to
second, Manasa sped home to give the first lead of the game
to Newberry, 1-0.
The Blue Hose battled back to take a one run edge in the top
of the third inning, scoring on a bases loaded wild pitch by
Newberry starter Dale Bennett, followed by a sacrifice fly
from Presbyterian left-fielder Russell Robinson.
Only allowing one hit through the first four innings, Harmon
started the fifth with a fastball that Newberry third
baseman Thomas Berryhill whacked over Robinson's head in
left field. Berryhill advanced to second on a past ball and
later came in to score on Anthony Dillenger's ground out to
the short stop.
With the game tied at 2-2, Booth put the Blue Hose back on
top with a two-run homer to left, knocking Bennett from the
game.
The Indians returned the favor, chasing Harmon from the game
with back-to-back singles by junior pinch-hitter Chad
Perschbacher and David Tunstill in the bottom of the sixth.
Blue Hose reliever Eric Tatum entered the game and walked
his first batter, Matt Awtrey, to load the bases with no
outs.
After a Matt Webb strikeout, Brandon Gardner was plunked by
Tatum and Perschbacher came in to score. Then, Berryhill hit
a sharp grounder to Blue Hose third baseman Bobby Holmes.
The junior stopped the ball, but threw wildly to first base
allowing Tunstill and Awtrey to cross the plate and give
Newberry a 5-4 lead.
The Indians' second lead of the game did not last long, as
Presbyterian's Russell Robinson picked up a two-out single
off of Newberry reliever Matt Cote in the top of the sixth
to tie the game for the second time.
After being removed from the mound in the top of the sixth
and heading to first base, Jesse Harmon singled to left
center to drive in the go-ahead run. Later in the inning
Kemper Booth hit his second homerun of the game, a three-run
shot, to put Presbyterian up 9-5.
Newberry started chipping away at the lead in the bottom of
the seventh, with back-to-back doubles from Anthony
Dillenger and Tyler Manasa to cut the lead to three. Tatum
then walked Perschbacher and Tunstill reached on a bunt
single to load the bases for the Indians with nobody out.
A Matt Awtrey grounder to first caused a force out at home
plate, retiring Manasa, but leaving the bases loaded. A slow
roller to short retired Matt Webb but brought in
Perschbacher for a second run in the inning. The next
batter, Brandon Gardner, was hit by a pitch to reload the
bases, but Thomas Berryhill flew out to center to end the
inning.
The Blue Hose next welcomes West Virginia State at 3 p.m. on
Tuesday, March 20.