CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College baseball team scored four runs in the eighth to power the Blue Hose to a 6-3 win over Winthrop on Sunday afternoon in the team's final home game of the season.
PC improves to a Division I era-best 20-28 and 5-16 in the Big South Conference. Winthrop moves to 23-26 and 11-10 in league play.
The result gives Head Coach Elton Pollock his first 20-win season since taking over the program prior to the 2005 season. The record also marks the best season for the Blue Hose since a 25-30 campaign in 2004. PC also finishes the home schedule with a winning 14-12 record at the PC Baseball Complex.
Mack Hite (Abbeville, S.C.) posted a game-high three hits
and Kenny Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C.) led both teams with three runs batted in.
Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.), Gabe Grammer (Irmo, S.C.)
and Tyler Hill (Goose Creek S.C.) each tallied an RBI as well.
Starting pitcher Steven Richardson (Howe, Texas) provided a masterful
performance in his first complete game at PC, scattering six hits for three
runs while striking out one. The win ties him for the team lead in
wins as he improves to 5-4.
The Blue Hose took five runs from Winthrop starter Matteo D'Angelo
as he moves to 4-6.
PC broke open a one-run game in the eighth, exploding for
four runs en route to a 6-1 lead.
Tony Micklon (Sumter, S.C.) gave PC its first runner by
taking a 0-2 pitch deep into the hole at shortstop for a one-out single. A Nate
Horton (Spartanburg, S.C.) single moved Micklon
to second and Grammer knocked in his RBI as the next batter, lining a D'Angelo
offering through the left side to score Micklon.
With two aboard and one away, Winthrop sent Mitchell Knox to
the mound. The Eagle lasted one pitch as Bryant smacked the first ball he saw
deep to centerfield for a two-run triple. Hill finished off the rallying by
bringing Bryant home on a single as PC led, 6-1.
Winthrop scored two on a two-run home run from Chas Crane in
the top of the ninth, but Richardson proved able to slam the door and earn the
6-3 win.
PC found the game's first run in the second inning. Micklon
led off the frame by doubling down the left field line and the junior moved to
third on a Horton groundout. A strikeout brought the inning one out away from
ending, but Bryant ripped a line drive through the right side to plate Micklon
and put PC on the scoreboard, 1-0.
Richardson held Winthrop hitless through the first three
innings. John Wagner (Olney, Md.) helped out his pitcher at second base, making
several impressive stops to keep Winthrop off of the bases.
Two hits and a sacrifice fly from the Eagles in the fourth
inning brought the game back to even at 1-1.
Down to their final out in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue
Hose regained their lead with timely hitting from the top of the order.
Williams and Hite picked up back-to-back singles to put two on and bring up
Zebedis. The freshman delivered, lining an 0-1 pitch through the right side
that scored Hite. PC ended the frame ahead, 2-1.
Two scoreless innings passed before the Blue Hose tagged the
Eagles for the four runs that would help them lock up the 6-3 win.
The Blue Hose hit the road on Tuesday for a matchup against the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks at 7 p.m.
