NEWBERRY, S.C. – A brilliant pitching performance from freshman Ethan LeBron (Lexington, S.C.) in the second game of a twin billing gave the No. 18 Newberry College (22-3, 6-0 SAC) baseball team the three-game conference series sweep of the Cavaliers of UVA Wise on Sunday, March 13.
LeBron would toss a complete game in the nightcap allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five batters along the way. He tossed a total of 97 pitches in the contest. Junior Kyle Baker (Gaston, S.C.) picked up the win in the early game in relief, moving to 3-1 on the year. He provided four innings of work for the Wolves while fanning five as well.
The bats were hot for the Wolves on the day as well as they scattered 23 hits between the two contests. Freshman Jonathan Velez (Mayaguez, P.R.) went a perfect 3-for-3 in the first game while knocking in a run while sophomore Henry Gibson (Walterboro, S.C.) went 3-for-4 with an RBI as well. Senior Zane Tarrance (Odessa, Fla.) knocked in a pair in the opening game while junior Braylin Marine (Freeport, N.Y.) and freshman Kade Faircloth (Oviedo, Fla.) both added two to the tally as well.
Newberry was able to jump on the board in the top of the first inning with an RBI-triple from Marine gave them the early 1-0 lead. However, after a solid start to the day, the Wolves pitching staff went through a shaky second inning allowing a trio of runs and giving UVA Wise the 3-1 advantage. After walking the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Baker was able to get out of the jam with a double play and a grounder to keep the margin at two.
The Wolves would cut into that lead in the next frame as Faircloth recorded an RBI-single to left center field that plated the lone run of the inning. Newberry was able to pull even in the top of the fifth as another run would come across thanks to a wild pitch by the UVA Wise hurler.
Newberry opened the floodgates in the top of the sixth as they were able to post seven runs in the frame to take over the 10-3 advantage. A defensive miscue on a sacrifice bunt would plate the first two runs of the frame while a single would bring the score to 6-3. Two more singles, a hard ground out and another defensive miscue would score the other four runs for the Wolves in the inning, giving them the seven-run advantage.
They would score another run in the top of the seventh and four more in the top of the ninth while holding the Cavaliers scoreless the remainder of the way, wrapping up the 15-3 win.
In the nightcap, the Wolves would carry the momentum of the first game into the series finale as they plated two runs in the top of the first. A walk, a wild pitch, a stolen base and a throwing error would bring around the first run for the Scarlet and Gray while another throwing error and a sacrifice fly would plate the other, giving Newberry the 2-0 lead.
Velez would record a two RBI-double in the top of the second before he would find his way back to the plate off a sacrifice fly that increased the Newberry lead to 5-0. Meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball, LeBron retired the Cavs in order in each of the first four innings while the Wolves were able to extend their lead to 8-0 with another three runs added to their total in the top of the fourth.
An error and a hit by the Cavs would bring the perfect game and no-hitter bid to a close, but LeBron would not let a runner get past second base the entire contest as he would go the distance, wrapping up the 8-0 win.
The Wolves will look to extend their eight-game win streak as they travel to Augusta, Ga. to take on the Jaguars in a non-conference match-up on Wednesday, March 16. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
