HICKORY, N.C. – A big second inning by the Newberry offense and seven strong innings from starting pitcher Evan Estridge lifted Newberry to an 11-1 win at Lenoir-Rhyne Friday evening, giving the Wolves their seventh win in the last eight games.
Newberry (11-9, 4-3 SAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on three singles, an RBI groundout, and a costly Lenoir-Rhyne (15-8, 4-3 SAC) error. The Wolves then sent 12 men to the plate in the second, scoring seven runs on seven hits in the frame to blow the game open.
A pair of singles and a fielder's choice put two on with one out for Colin Allman, who send an 0-2 pitch up the middle to score the first run of the frame. Consecutive singles by Derek Olenchuk and Ben Herring plated a pair of runs, and Tyler Ackard's hit by pitch spelled the end of the night for Lenoir-Rhyne starter Hunter Martin.
Colin Santiago's RBI groundout produced the fourth run of the inning before a two-run single by Tyler White, an error, and Chase Barbary's second hit of the inning made the score 10-1. The Wolves tacked on another run on two hits in the third and cruised to the victory.
The top one-third of the order did considerable damage for Newberry. The combination of Danton Hyman, Allman, and Olenchuk combined to go 9-for-17 with three RBI, a walk, and seven runs scored in the contest. White had the first three-hit game of his career and recorded multiple RBI for the first time this season.
Olenchuk entered the day with 28 RBI on the season, one off the national lead, and added two more to his total on the evening. Allman reached base for the 21st consecutive game dating back to last season, while Hyman extended his reached-base streak to within seven games of his career best with 16.
Estridge worked at least six innings for the fifth time this season, scattering nine hits over his seven innings of work. He struck out three batters but did not allow a walk and gave up just one extra-base hit in improving to 1-2 and lowering his ERA to 3.96. Austin Walker worked a perfect eighth inning, the third time this season the senior left-hander has spent an inning on the mound without allowing a baserunner, before Charlie Fessler pitched the Wolves to a win in the ninth.
Newberry is now 7-1 in its last eight games dating back to a 5-1 win in the series finale with Carson-Newman on Feb. 24. The Wolves' offense has come alive during the stretch, compiling a .358 batting average and a .450 on-base percentage while slugging .515 and swiping 22 bases on 26 attempts.
The Newberry hurlers have also made their mark over the last two weeks, limiting opponents to a .217 average, a .314 on-base percentage, and a .307 slugging percentage with a staff ERA of 3.13.
The two teams return to action with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
