NEWBERRY, S.C. – While the rain would eventually bring the contest to an early close, the Newberry College (19-3) baseball team would grasp the lead in the third inning of the shortened contest and hold on to the necessary fifth innings, picking up the season sweep of the University of Mount Olive with a 5-1 win on Tuesday, March 8.
Sophomore Rylan Brown (Spartanburg, S.C.) picked up his second against Mount Olive in as many weeks as he went four innings for the Wolves on the mound allowing four hits and just one run. Redshirt-junior Kyle Baker (Gaston, S.C.) finished out the final inning of action for the Wolves allowing just two hits and striking out a pair.
Redshirt-junior Braylin Marine (Freeport, N.Y.) led the Scarlet and Gray at the plate as he was able to record a pair of RBIs in his three plate appearances. Senior Beau Thompson (Pickens, S.C.) tallied the other RBI for the Wolves on the day. Sophomore Jacob LeBron (Lexington, S.C.) went two-for-three at the dish while senior Ian Clements (Upper Marlboro, Md.) went a perfect two-for-two.
A lead-off walk dealt to the Trojans found its way around the bags in the opening frame to give them the early 1-0 lead and while the Wolves were able to move a runner into scoring position with just one out on the board, they would not be able to bring him around, going scoreless in the opening frame. Mount Olive was able to get another runner aboard in the top of the second, but the Wolves were able to roll a double play to get out of the inning.
Newberry again was able to get a runner on the base path in the bottom of the second, but a popup to the infield would end that attack. The Wolves kept the Trojans off the board in the top of the third before finally getting on the board themselves with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. After a defensive miscue allowed the first runner on base, a pair of wild pitches from the Trojans hurler brought around the run to score and tied the game up. Thompson would drive in another run for the Wolves later in the frame to give them the 2-1 lead.
The Wolves closed out the top of the frame with another double play before tallying three more runs in the bottom half to increase their lead. Clements kicked the inning off with a single before a hard ground out moved him over to second. A wild throw on a pick-off attempt brought him all the way from second to increase the Wolves lead to two. After a single by Lebron and a walk combined with a wild pitch, Newberry was situated with runners and the corners and Marine in the batter's box. The conference leader in RBIs tallied two more to his season with a triple to right center field that brought around both runs and secure the 5-1 advantage.
Baker made his way through the Trojans lineup in the top of the fifth before lightning and a torrential downpour brought the game to an early halt, with the Wolves picking up the 5-1 win.
The Wolves will hit the road for their second conference series this weekend against UVA Wise. Due to potential wintry weather, the schedule for the three-game series is still being finalized.
