NEWBERRY, S.C. – After dropping their first conference game in the series opener, the Newberry College (24-4, 8-1 SAC) baseball team responded with a doubleheader sweep of the Pioneers of Tusculum University as they took home the extra innings win 5-4 in the opening contest of the day before putting the series away with a 12-4 win in the rubber match.
Senior Beau Thompson (Pickens, S.C.) went a perfect 4-for-4 in the first game while tallying an RBI before knocking in a pair in the late game. Junior Braylin Marine (Freeport, N.Y.) was responsible for nearly half of the offensive output for the Scarlet and Gray on the day as he recorded a total of seven RBIs, including five in the final game of the series.
Freshman Ethan LeBron (Lexington, S.C.) provided yet another beautiful start on the mound for the Wolves as he would go six innings in the late game allowing just a pair of runs across the plate. Freshman Tyler Chinpire (Jupiter, Fla.) was brilliant on the mound in the opening contest of the day as he went six innings as well, allowing a pair of unearned runs. Sophomore Tyler Tuck (Liberty, S.C.) picked up the win in the opening game as he recorded the final three outs of the extra-innings contest.
In the first game of the day, it would take several innings for either team to get a true offensive chance as only one runner between the two squads would find their way to third base in the first four innings of action. Tusculum plated the first runs of the game in the top of the fifth off a defensive miscue as they put two on the board in the frame and then further extended their lead by an additional run in the top of the seventh to take the 3-0 lead.
The bottom of the eighth would be when the offense finally came alive for the Wolves as they were able to respond to all the offense from the day from the Pioneers as a RBI-double from Marine would drive in a pair and Thompson would bring the game level and force the extra frames. The Pioneers would move a runner over into scoring position in the tenth, put a double play would bring that attack to an end. However, they were able to scratch across a run in the top of the eleventh to force Newberry's hand in the frame.
The Wolves would answer the call with three straight triples to kick off the inning before a sacrifice fly pulled the score back to even with just one away. The Wolves would waste no further time as freshman Jonathan Velez (Mayaguez, P.R.) knocked a single to right center field that scored the winning run from second and gave the Wolves the 5-4 win.
In the rubber match, the Wolves would waste no time getting runs on the board as they were able to post a single run in each of the first two innings. Marine recorded an RBI-single in the bottom of the first before freshman Jomar Lugo (San Sebastian, P.R.) knocked in the run in the bottom of the second. Meanwhile on the mound, LeBron was dealing a perfect game through the third and receiving offensive support as Newberry was able to further extend their lead in the bottom of the third with an eight-run outburst in the frame.
Newberry would go silent again until the bottom of the fifth where they would add another run to their tally and would repeat that effort in the sixth while the Pioneers posted a pair of runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. However, the Wolves would not allow the contest to go further than that as they secured the 12-4 win.
The Wolves return to action this Wednesday as they play host to the Pacers of USC Aiken for a single non-conference match-up. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m.
