Tuesday, February 13, 2007

             Blue Hose Claim First Shutout of The Season In 4-0 Win Win                                             Over USC Upstate

CLINTON, S.C. – The Blue Hose shut down regional foe USC Upstate 4-0 on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon to improve their record to 4-5 on the 2007 season.

The shutout victory was the first of the year for the Blue Hose.

Junior Eric Tatum (Buford, Ga.) nabbed his first win of the season after pitching eight scoreless innings, scattering seven hits without surrendering a walk or a run. Ben Dollar (Gaffney, S.C.) would enter in the eighth to close out the game, retiring the final three batters in order.

Upstate’s Tyler Oliver suffered his first loss of the season, surrendering four earned runs in four innings pitched.

The Spartans used four different pitchers out of the bullpen to keep the game close, allowing just one hit to the Blue Hose over the final four innings.

With the loss the Spartans record falls to 5-2.

Presbyterian scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the third inning. Shortstop Robert Anders (Greenville, S.C.) led off the inning with a single to left field and would wind up at third on a failed pick off attempt that sailed by Spartan first baseman Andrew Runion.

Zack Wilson (Mechanicsville, Va.) then delivered in the nine spot with a base hit to right field to bring home Anders. Wilson would come around to score after a sacrifice bunt and RBI ground out by Casey Carlson (Lexington, S.C.).

Kyle Craven (Savannah, Ga.) drove in Cory Lyda (Simpsonville, S.C.) for the final run of the inning on a triple down the right field line. Craven’s triple was the first three-bagger of the year for PC.

PC’s final run of the game came the very next inning. Bobby Holmes (Quinton, Va.) came home when Upstate catcher Bret Story threw out Anders attempting to steal second base.

The Blue Hose defense stymied multiple threats by USC-Upstate throughout the game, turning double plays in the fifth and ninth innings to secure the shutout.

PC will be back in action this Thursday afternoon as they face Belmont Abbey. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the PC Baseball Complex.