Saturday, March 17, 2007

PC Falls Twice In Twinbill With Newberry

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Newberry won both games of a twinbill with Presbyterian College at Greenville Municipal Stadium in Greenville, S.C. on Saturday afternoon. Newberry won game one 11-2 and then took a 5-4 win in game two.

Newberry churned out a season-high 19 hits and tied a season-high of 11 runs in the game one victory over the Blue Hose.

The Indians struck for a pair of runs in the opening inning, stringing together four hits.

Center-fielder Tyler Manasa reached on a single through the left side and advanced to third when designated hitter Scott Horvath pushed a hit between the first and second baseman.

On the first pitch to clean-up David Tunstill, Horvath took off from first in an attempt to steal second. As soon as Blue Hose catcher William Bolchoz leapt up to throw to second, Manasa bolted from home. Horvath was safe at second and Manasa scored.

After a Tunstill single, second baseman Kris Garcia lined one over first base and plated Horvath.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead into the second inning and posted two more runs on four more hits. This time left-fielder Nick Martin jumpstarted the attack with an infield hit to deep short.

Manasa then singled Martin in and took second on the throw. Horvath followed with a hit of his own, plating Manasa.

Martin later added two runs batted in of his own in the bottom of the fifth with a two out single to right field, scoring Kris Garcia and Brandon Gardner to give Newberry a 6-0 lead. Consecutive hits from Dillenger and Manasa led to another run. Then Manasa stole second safely and Dillenger advanced home on the throw. On the very next pitch from Blue Hose reliever Parker Suit, Horvath dropped a single into centerfield to bring in Manasa.

The Indians scored five runs on four hits in the fifth to put game one out of reach, with a 9-0 lead. Tacking a run in the sixth and another in the eighth to earn the 11-2 victory.

Newberry starter Brandon Petty went all nine innings for a second consecutive complete game, giving up just two runs and scattering 11 hits. Both runs for Presbyterian came in the bottom of the eighth and one was unearned.

Manasa finished game one with a 5-for-6 effort including three RBI, three runs scored, and three stolen bases. Horvath was 3-for-4, driving in two runs, stealing two bases, and scoring one run. Nick Martin had three hits and two RBI and Tunstill and Garcia each had a pair of hits.

Presbyterian starter Daniel Hill lasted only 4.2 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The Blue Hose bullpen gave up nine hits and four runs in the final 3.1 innings.

In game two, Presbyterian scored a run in the first inning off of Newberry starter Ernie Castellano on a Russell Robinson single that plated center-fielder Cory Lyda.

The Indians countered in the bottom of the inning when David Tunstill laced one down the third base line scoring Scott Horvath all the way from first base.

The Blue Hose countered in the top of the second, regaining a one run lead after Ernie Castellano walked Kyle Craven with the bases loaded.

Again, the Indians battled back to tie the game at 2-2 with a Matt Webb sacrifice fly that plated Tunstill.

With the game tied, the Indians put a three spot up in the bottom half of the fifth inning. A one out walk drawn by Scott Horvath opened the door for the Indians. Tunstill followed with a solid single to left field. After a Kris Garcia walk, Newberry first baseman Matt Webb turned on a pitch from Blue Hose reliever Ben Dollar and placed one in the left field corner.

Horvath, Tunstill, and Garcia all chugged around the bases to touch home plate, giving Newberry a 5-2 lead. Presbyterian would pick up a single run in the top of the sixth and another in the seventh, but Newberry reliever Stephen Byrd held off the Blue Hose to pick up his fifth victory of the season.

Webb finished the second game 1-for-2 with four RBIs. Tunstill was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Newberry starter Ernie Castellano went 1.2 innings with four hits allowed and two runs, both of which were earned. Byrd went 5.1 innings allowing two runs, one earned, and four hits.

Blue Hose starter Mitchell Odom fell to 0-7 on the season, with 4.2 innings of work. Odom allowed five runs and seven hits to the Newberry offense.

The Blue Hose and Indians conclude their three-game SAC series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Greenville Municipal Stadium.