SMC Sweeps Surry On The Road

Dobson, NC – SMC earned a road sweep on Tuesday at Surry Community College to close out the regular season, winning the opener 3-1 before cruising to an 8-1 victory in game two. With the wins, the Pioneers improved to 38-15 overall.

SMC struck for a pair of first inning runs to take the lead right out of the gates in game one. Travis Burnside (Laurens HS) reached on an infield single, and then moved from first to third on an errant pickoff attempt. A single through the right side from Tyler Jackson (Robert E. Lee Academy) scored him, and Luke Tollison (Laurens Academy) delivered an RBI double to right, giving SMC an early 2-0 lead.

Surry answered one inning later, scratching out a run in the bottom of the second off starter Ryan Gunther (Stratford HS), who surrendered a leadoff walk to start the frame. The next batter doubled to left, putting runners on second and third with no outs, and one out later, the Knights picked up a run on a groundout to second, pulling to within 2-1.

The Pioneers tacked on one more run in the fifth, when Johnny Ponder (Byrnes HS) doubled to right-center to lead it off and advanced to third on a groundout to the right side. Following a groundout to first that failed to score Ponder, Jackson picked him up with a clutch two-out base hit to make it 3-1. 

Surry tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, putting a pair of runners aboard with one out on a base hit and a walk. SMC called on their bullpen, and Hunter Rice (Boiling Springs HS) was greeted with a bunt single to load the bases. But Rice got out of the jam, striking out the next batter and getting the final out of the game on a spectacular diving play up the middle by second baseman Dacen Cash (Stephens Co., GA HS).

Gunther (5-2) earned the win with 6.1 solid innings, scattering six hits while walking two and striking out four. Rice picked his team-best fifth save of the season.

Jackson went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs to lead SMC at the plate.

SMC struck early again in the nightcap, putting up four first-inning runs. Burnside led off with a line drive single to center, and a bunt single by Cash put a pair of runners aboard. Jackson drew a walk, and Tollison drilled a two-run double to left. Ben Boykin (Nations Ford HS) singled through the right side, driving in another run and putting runners at the corners. Parker Hudson (Mauldin HS) grounded into a double play, but the run scored, making it 4-0 before a strikeout closed out the Pioneer half.

The Pioneers tacked on another run in the third to make it 5-0. Cash started the inning with a base hit to right, and the ball got past the Knights' right fielder, allowing Cash to race all the way to third on the error. Jackson walked again, and the Knights induced another double play ball, this time from Tollison, but again the run scored.

The Pioneers expanded their lead to 6-0 in the fifth with a little help from the Knights. Cash reached on an error with two outs and the bases empty, and Jackson made Surry pay with an RBI double to right-center.

Surry finally got on the board with an unearned run in their half of the fifth. With starter Chris Cox (Mauldin HS) still on the mound, the Knights reached base on the first Pioneer error of the game. Following a flyout, another error followed by a walk loaded the bases and sent the Pioneers to their bullpen. Reliever Justin Lykins (Hickory, NC) got a groundball to shortstop for an out at second, but the runner beat the throw at first, allowing a run to score. A flyout to right ended the inning with the Pioneers up, 6-1.

SMC added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, as Cash picked up his third hit of the game on a base hit to center, and Jackson smoked another RBI double to plate him, then advanced to third on the relay throw to the plate. Tollison picked him up with an RBI groundout to get the lead to 8-1.

Lykins pitched a scoreless sixth and Ryne Slack (Ninety Six HS) pitched a scoreless seventh to close out the game, with each of them picking up two strikeouts.

Cox picked up his second win of the season with a quality outing. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and one unearned run, walking one and striking out three.

Cash (3-4), Jackson (2-2, 2 2B, 2 RBI), and Tollison (1-4, 2B, 3 RBI) led the offense.    

SMC earned the No. 2 seed for the Region X tournament in Burlington, NC. The Pioneers will face USC Salkehatchie on May 7 in the first-round game. First pitch is scheduled for 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.