AIKEN, S.C. – Rebounding from only their second setback of the season, the Newberry College (13-2) baseball team was able to pick up a 7-4 win over the Pacers of USC Aiken to kick-off a three-game series for the weekend.
Sophomore Jacob LeBron (Lexington, S.C.) led the way for the Wolves on the evening tallying a trio of RBIs while senior Zane Tarrance (Odessa, Fla.) was able to add a pair as well. Fellow freshman Hunter French (Minneola, Fla.) and Jomar Lugo (San Sebastian, P.R.) each recorded one as well. While the hits were few and far between for the Wolves in the contest, the control of the Pacers' pitching staff was suspect all night as the Newberry batters were able to draw seven walks, twice walking in a run.
Senior Joe LaFiora (Philadelphia, Pa.) picked up the win on the mound for the Wolves, his second of the season as he went a full six innings allowing just one run and striking out six batters. The bullpen took over and allowed just three runs over the closing three innings of action with sophomore Johnathan White (Simpsonville, S.C.) picking up the save to finish out the contest.
After what looked like would become a pitcher's dual over the opening three innings of action as only two runners found their way into scoring position over that stretch, both for Newberry, the scoreboard began to light up in the top of the fourth as the Wolves exploded for five runs in the frame. Starting off the inning with a single sandwiched by two hit batters, Newberry quickly loaded the bases just six pitches into the inning.
French recorded his lone RBI of the contest as he drew a five-pitch walk before Lugo recorded his with a hard groundout to plate another run and leave two more Wolves in scoring position. Another walk would load the bags for the Scarlet and Gray who would then plate another run on the next at-bat as LeBron recorded his first RBI of the contest with a four-pitch walk.
To round out the scoring in the frame, Tarrance drove a solid hit to left field that would plate a pair of runs and give Newberry the 5-0 lead halfway through the fourth. The two teams would trade scoreless halves before the Pacers were finally able to add a run to their tally in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score back to 5-1.
However, as they have done many times this season, the Wolves responded in the next half inning by posting a pair of runs. A string of three straight singles by Lugo, freshman Kade Faircloth (Oviedo, Fla.) and LeBron in that order were able to bring across both runs and round the RBI count for LeBron on the day as they extended their lead back out to 7-1.
While the Newberry offense went quiet for the remainder of the game, not posting another run, the Pacers were able to scratch across a pair in the eighth and a single run in the ninth before White was able to close the book on the game with the Wolves taking away the 7-4 victory.
Newberry returns to action tomorrow and they welcome the Pacers to the Smith Road Complex for the second game of the series. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
