CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian Baseball
team delivered a win in the regular-season home finale. Trailing early in the
first four innings, the Blue Hose rallied to overcome a five-run deficit for a
10-9 victory. Rainclouds started to put a damper on the game during the bottom
of the fourth, but the sun came back out, firing up PC and helping the team walk
away with the close win.
PC picked up
its 13th win of the season, tying the school record for wins since
moving to Division I.
Jesse Harmon was four-for-five with two RBI's and two runs scored. He also
closed out the game at pitcher, securing the win for the home team while
earning the save. Matt Hill drove in two runners as well and went three-for-four
on the day. Rodney Scruggs kept High Point's batters at bay as he only allowed
one hit and no runs in three innings of play.
HPU began the
last game of the series with a single off the first pitch of the game. The team
took advantage of its speed with two steals and two runs in the first inning.
After being held scoreless in the first inning, PC returned the favor to the
Panthers and ended the top of the second in three plays.
The Blue Hose
came out swinging in the bottom of the second. Matthew Hill, Jeff Tatum, and
Mack Hite drove runners in to give the Blue Hose a one-run lead with the score
3-2.
The storm
clouds started rolling in during the third and fourth inning and PC spirits
quickly darkened with the clouds as HPU put seven runs on the board and took
back the lead at 9-4. After getting a downpour of rain, the sun came through
and the Blue Hose started to claw back into the game.
In an exciting
turn of events, PC scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Panthers
opened up the inning walking Tony Micklon. Nate Horton singled down the right
side and advanced Micklon to second. Hill delivered a beautiful sacrifice bunt
down the third base line, allowing both runners to advance a base.
Harmon stepped up to the plate and smashed one down the right field line,
earning a double while plating both runners. After a pitching change by the
visitors, Mike Caldwell opened his day for the Panthers with a wild pitch,
which sent Harmon to third. Derrick Herron then singled, sending Harmon home.
Tatum followed suit and singled through the left side. Both runners on stole a
base and put PC in scoring position. After the second wild pitch in the inning,
Herron slid into home, making it a one-run game with HPU leading 9-8.
Hite grounded out to the second basemen, but Tatum scampered home on the play,
evening the score. The inning ended with a pop fly and two runners on, but PC had
done enough damage in the frame, tying the contest at nine apiece.
Scruggs did not
allow any hits in the sixth. PC countered in its half of the frame. With bases
loaded, Herron stepped to the plate and forced a base on balls, giving PC the
lead in what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Scruggs
finished strong, only allowing one run while he was on the mound. J. Harmon
closed the game tossing 1.1 innings of relief, holding off the Panthers in the
tightly contested ball game.
PC takes to the
road to play Clemson on Tuesday evening.
The game starts at 6:30 p.m.
