SMC Rallies To Win At East Georgia, 8-6

Swainsboro, GA – A five run fifth inning, capped by Luke Tollison's (Laurens Academy) three-run triple, ignited a come-from-behind victory for the Pioneers (13-5) in the first of a three game series at East Georgia College (10-11) on Saturday.

SMC starter Ben Carlson (Mauldin HS) got into trouble early, as EGC put up three runs on four hits in the first inning and tacked on another run in the second.   

Still trailing 4-0 going into the fourth, SMC finally got on the board when Travis Burnside (Laurens HS) stretched a base hit into a hustling double with one out and Tyler Jackson (Robert E. Lee Academy) chased him home with a line drive single back through the middle.

Meanwhile, Carlson settled in, striking out four and allowing just a single hit as he pitched scoreless frames in the third and fourth, giving SMC a chance to get back in the game.

A five run outburst in the fifth gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game. Dacen Cash (Stephens County, GA HS) led off with a base hit to left but was forced out at second on Champ Rowland's (Wade Hampton HS) fielder's choice ground ball to shortstop. Reggie Weatherford (Lake City HS) reached base safely on an infield single, putting runners at first and second with one out, and Parker Hudson (Mauldin HS) scored Rowland with an RBI single to right. Following a pop out to second, Jackson drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Tollison's heroics. The sophomore designated hitter came up big, driving a triple to left-center to clear the bases, then scoring himself when the relay to third was overthrown and ended up as a dead ball in the home team's dugout. A flyout ended the inning, but SMC had seized the momentum and a 6-4 lead.  

The Bobcats scratched out a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth to get within one, but the Pioneers answered with two insurance runs in the sixth to expand the lead to 8-5. Reliever Jared Keels (Spring Valley HS) gave up a run on a pair of two out hits in the bottom of the sixth to narrow the gap to 8-6. But Hunter Rice (Boiling Springs HS) slammed the door shut with a three up, three down seventh to preserve the win for SMC.

Carlson earned his fourth win of the season against no losses, as he scattered ten hits, one walk, and struck out five in five innings of work. Rice struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect seventh to earn his second save of the season.

Hudson (2 for 4) was the only Pioneer to tally a multi-hit game.   

The second game of Saturday's doubleheader was halted due to darkness in the top of the tenth, with the score tied, 1-1. That game will be completed, along with the third game of the series, on Sunday afternoon, starting at 1 pm.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The College is in its 100th academic year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
 
For more information please contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.