Photo by Robin Martin
WILSON, N.C. – The Presbyterian College baseball team split a
doubleheader against NJIT on Sunday afternoon at Fleming Stadium winning game
one by a 3-2 margin before falling in the second game, 1-0.
PC ends the day at 10-7 while NJIT improves to
4-7.
Nate Chong (Duluth, Ga.) and Cam McRae
(Darlington, S.C.) each tallied two hits on the day. Chandler Knox (Columbia,
S.C.) earned a win while Bud Jeter (Columbia, S.C.) took a tough loss in the
second game, giving up only two hits in six innings of work.
The Blue Hose next travel to Wofford on
Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest in Spartanburg.
PC 3, NJIT 2 (Game 1)
The Blue Hose received another strong pitching
performance from Knox to get a win in game one.
Knox threw seven innings, allowing two runs while
striking out six to move to 2-0 on the season. Michael Ricchi (McKinney, Texas)
picked up his second save of the season in relief.
Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) went 2-for-3 in the
tilt and scored two of PC's three runs. McRae posted a 2-for-4 effort and delivered
the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning, one of his two in the first game.
Nick Swim went 2-for-3 for NJIT while Bill
VanMeerbeke took the loss.
The Blue Hose went to work quickly in the day's
first game, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Brad Zebedis (Rock
Hill, S.C.) took a pitch off of his arm and Paul laced a single to right field
to put two aboard. Preston brought Zebedis home on a single to left field
before McRae smacked a double to left field. The hit sent in Paul, but the Highlanders
caught Preston at home despite a hard collision from the Blue Hose and catcher
Scott Brosman. PC led after the inning, 2-0.
NJIT took one run back in the third, using a
double and a pair of singles to plate Jake Stern and cut PC's lead in half, 2-1.
The Highlanders tied the contest in the top of
the sixth inning. A triple from Ed Charlton set up a Matt Weckerle bloop single
to left that pulled NJIT even, 2-2. The inning came to an end on an incredible
stab from Knox.
Knox made another great defensive play for the
second out in the seventh. With a runner at third, Mike Rampone laid down a
squeeze bunt that dribbled back to Knox. The pitcher shoveled the ball to the
catcher Zebedis for the successful tag and the game stayed tied at 2-2.
The play proved important as the Blue Hose took
the lead in the bottom of the frame. Paul drew a leadoff walk and moved to
second on a Preston sacrifice bunt. McRae then roped a 1-1 pitch down the left
field line for an RBI double that gave PC a 3-2 lead after seven complete
innings.
Ricchi entered the game and closed down the
Highlanders, throwing two scoreless innings to seal the win for PC.
--------------------------------------------------------
NJIT................ 001 001 000 - 2 8
0 (3-7)
Presbyterian College 200 000 10X - 3 8
0 (10-6)
--------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: NJIT - VANMEERBEKE, Bill; BENTLEY, Ian(7) and BROSMAN, Scott.
Presbyterian College - KNOX, Chandler; RICCHI, Michael(8) and ZEBEDIS,
Brad.
Win-KNOX, Chandler(2-0) Save-RICCHI, Michael(2) Loss-VANMEERBEKE,
Bill(1-2) T-1:59 A-56
Weather: Mid-50s, slight breeze, bright
NJIT 1, PC 0 (Game 2)
The Highlanders grabbed a close result in Sunday's second
game, 1-0. Jeter delivered a stellar effort on the mound despite receiving a
loss, allowing only two hits and one run—all in the same inning—in six innings.
Jeter moves to 2-1 on the year in his first loss of the season. Chad Sanders
(St. Simons Island, Ga.) also threw one inning of perfect ball.
Chong went 2-for-3 in the game to lead the team offensively.
PC nearly scored in the first inning but a relay from left
field led to a close play at the plate and Billy Motroni (Goose Creek, S.C.)
was called out.
Neither team threatened again until the bottom of the fifth.
Aaron Preston (Goose Creek, S.C.) hit a leadoff double to centerfield before
stealing second base. NJIT's Mark Leiter, Jr. then took a comebacker and threw
Preston out at third on a fielder's choice to keep the Blue Hose scoreless.
Jeter did not allow a hit until the sixth inning when NJIT
struck for one run and the lead. The Highlanders strung together two singles
and loaded the bases on a walk. Matt Weckerle then grounded out to second to
score the run and put NJIT ahead for the first time, 1-0.
PC threatened again in the seventh as Chong received third
via single, steal and wild pitch. A two-out popout ended the team's chances for
scoring, however, and the Blue Hose could not cash in on another baserunner in
the shortened game's final inning.
Sanders struck out one in his one inning of relief. Leiter
earned the complete game win for NJIT by allowing no runs and five hits over
seven innings.
------------------------------------------------------
NJIT................ 000 001 0
- 1 2 0 (4-7)
Presbyterian College 000 000 0
- 0 5 0 (10-7)
------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: NJIT - LEITER, Mark Jr. and BROSMAN, Scott. Presbyterian College -
JETER, Bud; SANDERS, Chad(7) and LONG, Derek.
Win-LEITER, Mark Jr.(2-2) Loss-JETER,
Bud(2-1) T-1:50 A-63
Weather: Low 60s, clear and bright
