SMC Diamond: Notes, News And Season Week 6

SMC Update:

The Pioneers (19-5) swept a four-game series on the road last weekend at regional foe USC Lancaster, stretching their current win streak to 10 games.

Who's hot: 1B Tyler Jackson and CF Travis Burnside had nearly identical lines this weekend. Jackson was 6 for 16 and Burnside 6 for 18. They each had a pair of home runs, a double, and six RBI. Burnside now leads the team with 24 RBI, one ahead of Jackson and IF/DH Luke Tollison.

Tollison went 4 for 11 in the series, including a big three-run homer in the fourth inning of game one Saturday to give the Pioneers the lead and provide a much-needed offensive spark. He was pitched around for much of the remainder of the weekend, drawing seven walks in 18 total plate appearances.

2B Dacen Cash had a 6 for 13 weekend and is leading the team in on-base percentage at a .529 clip. 

SS Champ Rowland picked up nine RBI on the weekend, doubling his season total.

RHP Ben Carlson threw his third complete game of the season on Saturday in a 7-2 win over USC Lancaster. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 2.70 in a team-leading 30 innings pitched.   

LHP Logan Pemberton struck out four in three innings of relief at USC Lancaster. He has 19 Ks overall in 13.2 innings so far.

RHP Corey Rhoney has been outstanding out of the bullpen. In four relief appearances so far this spring, he has yet to surrender an earned run. 

SMC Upcoming Games:

• at Pitt CC – Saturday, March - 1 pm
• at Pitt CC – Sunday, March 20 – 1 pm
• vs. Catawba Valley CC – Tuesday, March 22 – 1 pm

College Alumni Update:

John Long, RHP, East Tennessee State – Earned the win for the Bucs on Friday night, limiting North Florida to two earned runs on seven hits, and striking out eight. On the season, Long is 1-0, 3.42 with 19 Ks in 23.2 IP. Long is also swinging it well for the Bucs; .429 in 29 AB with two doubles and a home run.

Josh Adams, RHP, Georgia Southern – Picked up two wins for the Eagles last week: the first with three scoreless innings of relief on Tuesday at No. 1 Florida; and the second in a start on Saturday against Furman, when he pitched 5.2 innings, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run, while striking out three. Adams leads the team in wins (4) and innings pitched (27.2). His season line is 4-1, 3.25 ERA with 18 Ks.

Steve Cochrane, 1B, Georgia Southern – Went 4 for 9 with two doubles and four RBI last weekend in helping the Eagles to a series sweep over Furman. A mainstay in the middle of the lineup for GSU, Cochrane is hitting .379 with five doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI. 

Marty Gantt, LHP/OF, College of Charleston – Had a 5 for 13 weekend for the Cougars in a series win over Davidson. For the season, he's hitting .369 with seven doubles, two triples, and a home run. He is also 9 for 10 in stolen base attempts.

Kyle Owings, RHP, College of Charleston – Earned his third save of the season Friday night against Davidson with 1.2 innings of perfect baseball, striking out two along the way. In six appearances, covering 11.2 innings, Owings has allowed just five hits, no walks, and no earned runs, while striking out seven. 

Pro Alumni Update:

2B Orlando Hudson ('98) is 4 for 20 with a double and a home run so far in eight spring training games for the San Diego Padres. The two-time All-Star is entering his tenth season in the big-leagues and has won four Gold Glove awards.  

OF Travis Witherspoon ('09) has ten at bats and has played in twelve games in big-league spring training with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Witherspoon has already made an appearance on SportsCenter's "Top 10" with a diving catch this spring and was named one of the top 20 prospects in the Pioneer League last summer.

RHP Heath Hembree ('09) is in minor league spring training with the San Francisco Giants. Hembree is coming off a season in which he was named one of the top 20 prospects in the Arizona League and the number 11 prospect overall for the Giants. 

RHP David Walters ('07) and LHPs Barrett Phillips ('09) and Allen Caldwell ('08) are in minor league spring training with the Orioles, Pirates, and Royals, respectively.