NEWBERRY, S.C. – Picking up right where they left off yesterday, the Newberry College (14-2) baseball team secured yet another series victory as they picked up a 12-5 win over the Pacers of USC Aiken in the second game at the Smith Road Complex on Saturday, February 26.
Freshman hurler Ethan LeBron (Lexington, S.C.) pitched a gem for the Wolves on the day as he would go six and a third allowing just three runs and only allowing one walk. Fellow freshman Parker Fenton (Minneola, Fla.) shut the door at the end of the contest, taking to the rubber for the final two innings of action of hitless action.
Freshman Kade Faircloth (Oviedo, Fla.) led the way for the Wolves in the batter's box as he was able to record a trio of RBIs in the contest while sophomore Rhett Jolly (Edgefield, S.C.) pitched in a pair of his own on the afternoon. Redshirt-junior Braylin Marine returned to form after a slight slump yesterday, going three-for-four at the plate and notching a pair of RBIs. Freshman Jonathan Velez (Mayaguez, P.R.) went perfect at the dish in his four at-bats, knocking in a pair of runs as well.
While the game looked similar on the scoreboard to the start of yesterday's contest, the Wolves were truly attacking early as they were able to move a runner to third base in each of the first two innings, but the offense would leave them stranded in both frames keeping zeroes on the board for both sides over the opening stretch.
A quick eight-pitch inning for LeBron in the top of the third gave way to a two-run inning for the Scarlet and Gray in the bottom half as they were able to take the 2-0 advantage. A lead-off walk would put the first runner of the inning on for the Wolves before a defensive miscue and a gorgeous bunt by sophomore Henry Gibson (Walterboro, S.C.) put runners on the corners. Another defensive miscue for the Pacers would load the bags and then Faircloth would drive a hard ball to the shortstop, where the teams traded a run for an out. They did the same thing on the next at-bat to take over the two-run advantage.
The Wolves would add another run to their tally in the bottom of the fourth off a wild pitch and then would continue to increase their lead further in the sixth inning as they matched the frame number with six runs in the innings to take the 9-0 lead. The Pacers pitching staff began to lose control of the strike zone in the frame as two hits, two wild pitches and two walks would lead to the first two runs scored for the Wolves before they made the move to the bullpen. The reliever drew a walk on his first batter to bring in another run and Jolly followed that up with a single to bring in another. Velez recorded both his RBIs on the day in one swing as a ball through the left side brought around two more runs for the Wolves.
USC Aiken found some rhythm offensively in the top of seventh where they were able to post all five of their runs on the night on the board, but the Wolves responded with another run in the bottom half and two more runs in the eighth to wrap up their 12-5 victory.
The three-game series comes to a close tomorrow as the Wolves make the trip back to Aiken, S.C. for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
