Pioneers Split Final Region X Doubleheader
Allendale, SC – SMC split on Saturday at USC Salkehatchie to wrap up the final Region X series of the regular season, pulling out a 3-2 win in a 16-inning marathon before losing the series finale 8-0.
The Pioneers got off to a nice start in the third game of the series, as Travis Burnside (Laurens HS) homered to left to lead off the game. But the offense went dormant after that, with only one more SMC batter managing to reach base through six innings.
Meanwhile, SMC starter Corey Rhoney (East Burke, NC HS) was cruising along as well, keeping the Indians off the scoreboard and allowing just one hit through five innings. But Rhoney issued a leadoff walk in the sixth, and, following a stolen base, the tying run moved to third on a flyout to right. SMC went to their bullpen, calling on Jared Keels (Spring Valley HS), who walked the first batter he faced. Another stolen base put the go-ahead run at second, and after a lineout to center, the Indians singled through the left side of the infield to tie the game and chase Keels from the game. Hunter Rice (Boiling Springs HS) entered with runners at the corners and two outs and surrendered another base hit through the left side to give up the lead before striking out the next batter to close the inning.
Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, SMC was down to their last out when catcher Ben Boykin (Nations Ford HS) lined a two-out, game-tying home run to right field to give the Pioneers a chance to stay in it.
Rice threw a scoreless seventh to force extra innings, which would feature an outstanding effort from the SMC bullpen. Rice, Justin Lykins (Hickory, NC), Josh Wilson (Strom Thurmond HS), and Greg Harrison (Hilton Head HS) combined to hold the Indians scoreless over the final ten innings, working out of three bases-loaded jams along the way.
Rice got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh with a pop-up to second and a strikeout, and Lykins worked out of the same situation with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth. The Indians threatened again in the 14th, putting runners on the corners with one out, then loading the bases with two outs, but Wilson picked up a big strikeout to end it.
SMC continued to struggle offensively in the extra frames, as they never mounted a serious threat until the 15th inning. Tyler Jackson (Robert E. Lee Academy) walked to lead things off, and a one-out single to right by Boykin put a pair of runners aboard for the first time all game. Following a pop out to shortstop, Parker Hudson (Mauldin HS) drew a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Michael Keels grounded sharply to third, and it looked like the Pioneers might plate a run on an error as the ball kicked off of the third baseman's glove, but the Indians' shortstop barehanded the ball out of the air and threw across for the third out.
The Pioneers finally scratched one across in the 16th. Burnside reached on a one-out error when his groundball to first base was mishandled. Reggie Weatherford (Lake City HS) drew a walk, and Jackson's base hit to left-center scored Burnside with the go-ahead run.
Harrison (2-1) retired the Indians in order in the bottom half to slam the door and earn the win.
Boykin and Dacen Cash (Stephens Co., GA HS) had two hits apiece for the Pioneers, who managed just seven hits for the game.
The Pioneers' offensive woes continued in the fourth game of the series, and USC Salkehatchie took advantage of four SMC errors and rapped out nine hits to cruise to an 8-0 win.
SMC got a pair of runners aboard in the top of the first on one-out singles by Weatherford and Jackson. But a double-play ended the scoring threat, and the USC Salkehatchie starter settled in after that, allowing just three more hits in a complete game shutout.
The Indians got on the board in the second inning, when an infield error and a base hit to right put runners on the corners with no outs. Another error allowed one run to score and put runners at first and second. The Indians attempted to sacrifice both runners up a base, but SMC starter Stephen Leopard (South Aiken HS) cut down the lead runner at third for the first out of the inning. A soft single fell in to shallow left, loading the bases, and a base hit through the right side scored two, creating an early 3-0 deficit. Leopard worked out of the inning with no further damage, but the Indians chased him from the game one inning later, tacking on three runs on three hits off Leopard and another run on a pair of hits and two wild pitches courtesy of reliever Dylan Griffith (Barnwell HS).
The Indians expanded their lead in the fourth, tacking on another unearned run as a pair of errors put the leadoff man on second, and a single to left put runners on the corners with no outs. Lefthander Logan Pemberton (Lewisville HS) induced a double-play groundout, but the runner scored from third.
That would conclude the scoring for either team, and the Pioneers fell, 8-0.
Leopard suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 3-1. He worked 2.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Jackson went 2 for 3, recording the only multi-hit game for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers (36-15, 16-10) will conclude the regular season with a doubleheader on Tuesday at Surry CC. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm. The Region X tournament will be held in Burlington, NC, from May 7-11.
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.
