SMC Diamond: Notes, News, And Season Week 10

SMC Update:

The Pioneers (32-11, 12-6) put together a solid 6-1 week, sweeping a home doubleheader against USC Salkehatchie on Tuesday, 8-3 and 15-9. They beat USC Lancaster 8-4 in a single 9 inning game on Wednesday at Chester, then took three of four in the weekend Region X series against Louisburg at home. They pulled out wins in a pair of pitcher's duels on Saturday, 3-1 and 2-1, dropped game three on Sunday, 5-4, then rebounded to clinch the series with a 13-3 win in game four. 

Who's hot:

RHP Ben Carlson pitched well Saturday in picking up his team-leading seventh win of the season. He went the distance for his sixth complete game, allowing just four hits, all singles, and striking out five. He surrendered two walks. RHP Justin Lykins picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday with four solid innings of relief. He surrendered just two hits and one earned run, walking one and picking up four strikeouts. He also pitched a scoreless inning on Sunday. 

C Ben Boykin had a big week, going 11 for 20 with a double and three RBI. OF/3B Reggie Weatherford went 8 for 19 with eight RBI, including a game-tying two-run homer in game three vs. Louisburg. 1B Tyler Jackson homered three times and doubled twice on the week, while driving in eight runs. He homered twice on Saturday in big situations, giving the Pioneers the lead in game one and tying it in game two. Jackson also drew seven more walks on the week; he leads the team with 28. IF/DH Luke Tollison had five doubles and eight RBI; he is the team leader in both categories with 17 and 41, respectively. CF Travis Burnside homered (7) and tripled (6) twice each. He leads the team in both categories as well as total bases. IF Seth Neely had a nice week, 11 for 25 with four RBI.

SMC Upcoming Games:

• At Limestone (JV) – Thursday, April 14 – 1 pm
• vs. Guilford Tech – Saturday, April 16 – 1 pm
• vs. Guilford Tech – Sunday, April 17 – 1 pm

College Alumni Update:

Gray Stafford, 3B, Marshall – Went 6 for 8 with a home run, double, in a series split with Georgia Southern. 

John Long, RHP, East Tennessee State – Earned the win on Friday night over Lipscomb with 8 solid innings, allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Taylor Black, SS, Kentucky – Went 5 for 14 with a double and a stolen base as the Wildcats were swept by Auburn. 

Steve Cochrane, 1B, Georgia Southern – Went 4 for 8 with two home runs and five RBI in a series split with Marshall. 

Marty Gantt, LHP/OF, College of Charleston – Went 6 for 15 with one double, one home run, a stolen base, and five RBI in a series loss to The Citadel.

Rob Harding, IF/RHP, College of Charleston – Went 5 for 13 with a double and an RBI in a series loss to The Citadel.

Pro Alumni Update:

2B Orlando Hudson ('98) is off to a great start in his first season with the San Diego Padres. Through ten games, Hudson is hitting at a .324 clip with three doubles and four stolen bases.

CF Travis Witherspoon ('09) has shown power and speed early in his season for Class A Cedar Rapids (Angels). He has two doubles and two home runs among his six hits so far, and is also a perfect 5/5 in stolen base attempts. 

RHP Heath Hembree ('09) has thrown one inning so far in two outings for High Class A San Jose (Giants). He has not allowed an earned run, scattering three hits while striking out two and not allowing a walk.