GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone College baseball team dropped a 7-1 decision in the series finale against Carson-Newman University in the first game of the day before rebounding for a 4-3 win over Pfeiffer University on Saturday, February 3 at Founders FCU Stadium.
GAME 1 INFORMATION
Score: Carson-Newman 7, Limestone 1
Records: Carson-Newman (1-2), Limestone (2-1)
Location: Founders FCU Stadium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Senior Matt Orth (Asheboro, N.C.) collected one of Limestone's two hits – doubling in the ninth
- Orth also started on the mound, going six plus innings in a losing effort
- He surrendered seven hits and four runs, two earned, to go with four strikeouts
- Junior John Staab (Cockeysville, Md.) added a base knock
- Sophomore catcher Ryan Williams (Rich Square, N.C.) finished with a walk
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the series finale, grabbing a 1-0 advantage with a two-out base knock right back up the middle by Tyler Thompson. The Saints looked to respond in the bottom of the second following a one-out walk, but the next batter would hit into a 4-6-3 twin-killer to end the threat.
Carson-Newman starter Kyle Cagle was untouchable over the first 6.2 innings of play, allowing just one base runner on a walk while retiring 14 straight batters during that span. His offense came through with a single run in the fourth and another on a straight steal of home in the fifth to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.
A wild pitch in the top of the seventh would plate another run for the Eagles, but Limestone would attempt to rally in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back walks and a hit batter. However, Cagle escaped the bases-loaded jam and retired the side by striking out the next batter on three straight pitches.
Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Saints finally cracked the hit column as Staab flared a leadoff single into rightfield before Orth doubled to right in the ninth. Limestone broke up the shutout with an RBI groundout by Allen, but that was all the offense the Blue and Gold could muster in the 7-1 decision.
GAME 2 INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 4, Pfeiffer 3
Records: Limestone (3-1), Pfeiffer (0-1)
Location: Founders FCU Stadium
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Junior Zach Piazza (Huntingtown, Md.) went 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI
- Junior Chase Allen (Sharpsburg, Ga.) and Williams both added an RBI single
- Sophomore Brandon Banks (Rock Hill, S.C.) posted the go-ahead RBI on a sacrifice fly
- Senior starter Charlie Richardson (La Plata, Md.) got the start and took a no-decision
- Freshman Alec Seaward (Kings Mountain, N.C.) picked up his first career win over two innings
- Junior Eric Mullinax (Greenville, S.C.) picked up a four-out save
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints got an early jump on their former Conference Carolinas rival as Piazza pulled a two-out RBI single through the left side for a 1-0 lead in the third. Limestone attempted to extend that margin on a double by Orth a batter later, but the runner was tossed out at the plate trying to score from first base.
In the fifth, the Falcons countered with a pair of runs, including a two-out solo homerun to the opposite field by Kirby Lambert, to take their first lead of the day. Pfeiffer then added a single run in the sixth, making it 3-1, but the Blue and Gold broke through with three runs in the home half to move back in front.
Sophomore
Tim Bouchard (Ashburnham, Mass.) started the inning with a knock before scoring three batters later on an RBI single by Allen. Williams would then tie the game for the Saints before Banks drove in the game-winner with a sacrifice fly down near the Limestone bullpen.
Mullinax would then get Limestone out of a jam in the eighth, stranding both the tying and go-ahead runs, before preserving the 4-3 win by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
UP NEXT
Limestone is back in action next weekend when it hosts Merrimack College for four games at Founders FCU Stadium on February 10 and February 11. The Saints and Warriors will start the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.