Pioneers Sweep To Salvage Series Split

Spartanburg, SC – SMC swept a doubleheader over Guilford Tech on Sunday to salvage a series split on the weekend. The Pioneers improved to 34-13 overall, 14-8 in Region X.

The Pioneers won a war of pitching attrition in game three of the series, as the teams combined to use nine pitchers in the game. The Pioneer offense had eleven hits and took advantage of nine walks to pull away for an 11-7 win.

SMC went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second when Cody Martin (Stephens Co., GA HS) launched a long solo home run to right-center.

That lead didn't last long, as Guilford put together a four-run third with some help from the Pioneers. SMC starter Dylan Griffith (Barnwell HS) issued a leadoff walk, then threw a sacrifice bunt attempt away, putting runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice moved them to second and third, and a hit batsman loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back singles plated three runs for the visitors, and a wild throw on a pickoff attempt with runners on the corners allowed another run to score, making it a 4-1 game.

The Titans picked up another run in the fourth. Reliever Josh Wilson (Strom Thurmond HS) gave up a base hit to right-center that turned into a hustling double, and a balk moved the runner to third with no outs. It looked like Wilson may work out of the jam unscathed, as he got a pair of soft ground outs with the infield in. But a single up the middle tacked on a run for the visitors to expand their lead to 5-1.

SMC got back in the game with a big inning in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a sudden loss of command from the Guilford starter. Ben Boykin (Nations Ford HS) drew a two-out walk, and Martin got his second hit of the day on a line drive single to left. Four consecutive walks put three runs on the board for the Pioneers before the Titans could get to their bullpen. The reliever did his job, as Reggie Weatherford (Lake City HS) lined out sharply to left-center for the third out, but the Pioneers had pulled to within a run at 5-4.

But Guilford wasn't finished scoring. A leadoff walk and a base hit got the Titans going again in the fifth, and following a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base, the Pioneers went to their bullpen again. The first batter Ian McKinney (Dorman HS) faced connected for a sacrifice fly to center and two consecutive singles plated another run for the visitors, making it 7-4. SMC called on their bullpen yet again, and Hunter Rice (Boiling Springs HS) worked out of the jam, stranding two runners on a groundout to first.

In the bottom of the frame, Luke Tollison (Laurens HS) got things going again with a single to left. Consecutive walks to Boykin and Martin loaded the bases with one out. Parker Hudson's (Mauldin HS) bloop to center field fell in for a run scoring hit, and Champ Rowland (Wade Hampton HS) drew a bases-loaded walk to pick up another run for the Pioneers, sending the Titans to their bullpen again. Dacen Cash (Stephens Co., GA HS) greeted the next reliever with a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game, and Travis Burnside (Laurens HS) lined a two-out, RBI single to right, giving the Pioneers an 8-7 lead, before another Titan reliever came in to close the inning.

Rice pitched a scoreless sixth and the Pioneers kept the momentum in the bottom half, tacking on three more runs to make it an 11-7 game. Tyler Jackson (Robert E. Lee Academy) reached on an error, and Tollison's walk put a pair of runners aboard with no outs. Boykin's perfectly placed bunt went for a single and loaded the bases with no outs. Martin continued his hot hitting with an RBI single through the middle, and Hudson's base hit to left-center scored another run and sent Guilford to their bullpen for the fourth time. A bases-loaded popup got one out for the visitors, but Cash picked up another RBI with a base hit through the hole in the left side of the infield before a double-play ball ended the scoring.

Rice worked around a one-out walk in the seventh to pick up his second win of the season. He allowed one hit and one walk in holding the Titans scoreless in the final 2.1 innings of the game.

Martin had a big day, going 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Hudson chipped in with a pair of RBI singles, and Cash drove in three.        

In the final game of the series, the Pioneers could manage only two hits, but took advantage of seven Titan walks and three costly errors to pull out a 4-3 walk-off win.

Guilford scratched a run across in the first off of Corey Rhoney (East Burke, NC HS). A single to center followed by a stolen base put a runner in scoring position for the Titans, and a two-out base hit to center scored him with the game's first run.

SMC answered in the bottom of the frame, as Burnside lined a triple to deep left-center, then scored on a wild pitch to tie it up. A pair of walks put two runners aboard with no outs, but two groundouts and a strikeout got the visitors out of the jam and cost the Pioneers a chance at a big inning.

Guilford tacked on an unearned run in the third, as a two-base outfield error started the inning, a groundout to the right side advanced him, and an RBI groundout scored him to make it 2-1.

The Pioneers tied it in their half of the third, as Burnside walked to lead it off, stole second, and advanced to third when the catcher's throw bounced into center field. Jackson drew a one-out walk, putting runners on the corners, and Tollison's ground ball to shortstop forced Jackson out at second but wasn't hit hard enough to double him up, allowing Burnside to score.  

The Titans loaded the bases on Rhoney in the fourth on a pair of singles and a one-out walk. A sacrifice fly gave them the lead again, but Rhoney minimized the damage, getting a soft lineout to second to end the threat.

The Pioneers again answered with a run in the bottom half, as Rowland singled to right and an error on a groundball by Cash put two runners aboard with one out. Burnside walked, and Weatherford drove Rowland home with a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game at 3 apiece.

In the bottom of the seventh, Burnside again led off with a walk, his third of the game. Weatherford's sacrifice bunt was misplayed for an error, putting runners at first and second with no outs for Jackson. The sophomore first baseman laid down a good sacrifice bunt on his first attempt all season, and the wild throw to first went into dead ball territory, scoring Burnside from second with the winning run.

Ryan Gunther (Stratford HS) (4-2) picked up the win in relief. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

The Pioneers will be wrap up the Region X regular season schedule this weekend at USC-Salkehatchie. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3 pm, with Saturday slated for a 1 pm start.    

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.