By Staff Reports

 

FLORENCE, SC – The GSW baseball team lost the first two games of their three-game series on Saturday, April 21, by the scores of 11-8 and 13-3. However, they were able to salvage Game 3 on Sunday, April 22, with a 4-3 win at FMU’s Sparrow Stadium.

In Game 1, The Patriots jumped on the Hurricanes early in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs. They scored two more runs in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead. The Patriots added yet another run in the bottom of the sixth before GSW scored three in the top of the seventh. At that point, the Patriots led 10-3. Francis Marion scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth before GSW made a furious rally in the top of the ninth, scoring five runs. However, it was too little too late for the Hurricanes as Francis Marion took Game 1 by the score of 11-8.

Jason Baita went 2-for-5, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Jared Jones had a great first game at the plate for GSW. Jones went 3-for-5, scoring a run and driving in an RBI. Bradley Hough also did well for the Hurricanes. Hough went 2-for-4 at the plate in Game 1, scoring two runs. Cole Hinnant went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Patriots and scored four runs. C.J. Mackinson was also strong offensively for Francis Marion. Mackinson went 4-for-5, scored a run and drove in four RBIs.

GSW starter Kyle Britt (3-4) took the loss. Britt was knocked out of the game early. He pitched 1.1 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits and walked one batter. Andrew Patrick came on in relief of Britt. Patrick pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. The final pitcher used by GSW was A.J. Hayes. Hayes pitched 2.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out two. Sam High (2-2) got the win in Game 1. High pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out six.

In Game 2, it was all Francis Marion. The Patriots scored two in the first and three in the second to take an early 5-0 lead. They then scored one run in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a commanding 13-0 lead. GSW scored one run in the top of the third, one in the seventh and one in the eighth to round out their scoring.

Bradley Hough went 3-for-4 in Game 2, the best performance of a GSW hitter in that game. Jared Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tyler Skelton went 2-for-4 and scored a run, and Danny Molinari went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Steven Cox went 4-for-4 for the Patriots and scored three runs. Hinnant had another outstanding game at the plate, going 3-for-4, scoring four runs and driving in two RBIs. Trey Chapman went 1-for-4 for FMU, but that one hit was a home run off GSW reliever Matt Hubbard.

Mitch Holloway (2-9) had another tough outing for GSW. Holloway pitched 3.2 innings. He gave up nine runs on seven hits. Four of those runs were earned. He walked three and struck out five. GSW used four pitchers in Game 2. The second pitcher, Matt Hubbard, pitched 1 inning. Hubbard gave up four runs on five hits. He walked none and struck out one. Dakota Jackman came on in relief of Hubbard. Jackman pitched 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out four. Jared Donalson finished out the game for GSW. Donalson pitched one inning and didn’t give up any runs or hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Evan Flynn (2-4) was the winning pitcher for FMU in Game 2. Flynn pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on 11 hits. He walked two and struck out five.

On Sunday, April 22, fortunes changed for GSW. In Game 3, the Hurricanes scored one run in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to salvage a 4-3 victory in Game 3.

GSW fell behind 2-0 in the first, but were able to take advantage of three errors by the Patriots in this game. GSW scored four runs on seven hits and committed no errors. Francis Marion scored three runs on six hits and committed three errors.

Josh Logan went 2-for-5 and drove in an RBI for the Hurricanes. Jason Baita also contributed to the win. Baita went 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Gage Taylor went 2-for-3 for the Patriots in Game 3 and scored a run.

Kyle Spinks (2-6) got the win for GSW. Spinks pitched 7.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out eight. Harrison Timberlake came on in relief for Spinks. Timberlake pitched 1.1 innings, only giving up a hit and striking out one batter.

Austin Roseberry (3-2) took the loss for FMU. Roseberry pitched 4.1 innings, giving up all four of the Hurricanes’ runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out two.

The Hurricanes (9-32, 5-22 PBC) will travel to Alabama to take on Tuskegee University on Tuesday, April 24. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. They will finish out the season with a trip to Pembroke, NC to take on UNC Pembroke on Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29. The first pitch for Game 1 of that series is scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m. The Hurricanes have been mathematically eliminated from the race for the eighth and final berth in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.