Cardiac Pioneers: SMC Rallies Twice to Sweep Carolina

Playing from behind has quickly become part of the formula for the Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team to open the 2026 season. It was on full display Sunday as the Pioneers completed a doubleheader sweep of Carolina University to close the opening weekend of the Tyler Miller era.

SMC improved to 4-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons with 3-2 and 9-4 victories over the Bruins.

Game one provided the most dramatic moment of the day. Trailing 2-0 and down to their final strike in the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers turned to junior pinch-hitter Tanner Martin. With Evan Smith on third and Luke Morrison on second, Martin fell behind 0-2 before delivering a no-doubt, three-run walk-off home run over the Mooneyham Field fence to seal the comeback victory.

The rally began when Smith drew a walk and Morrison followed with a single up the middle, forcing a pitching change by the visiting Bruins. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Ty Harper, setting the stage for Martin's game-ending blast. The Hickory, N.C. native's first swing of the afternoon proved to be the difference.

SMC had four hits in the win, with four different players recording a hit. The Pioneers utilized three different pitchers, including Carson Matthews, who pitched an inning of one-hit relief with a strikeout for the win. SMC starter Luke Hartig went three innings and struck out three in a no-decision. Carolina scored twice in the third inning off Hartig for a 2-0 lead until the heroics by Martin.

The nightcap, like the three previous games, saw the Pioneers come from behind as they erased an early 2-0 deficit to the Bruins to score the next eight runs on their way to a 9-4 win for the doubleheader sweep.

Elijah Franz and Ty Harper led the 12-hit attack for the Pioneers with three hits apiece. Franz also had four stolen bases on his way to two runs scored. Plus, Blake Exizian had a pinch-hit, two-RBI double in the third inning that put the Pioneers ahead 3-2. In that same third inning, SMC plated six runs en route to the win.

SMC used three different pitchers in the win, including Nicky White, who pitched two innings of one-hit relief for his first collegiate win.

Next, the Pioneers will host No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan, who was a 2025 NAIA World Series participant for a single game at 3 p.m. at Mooneyham Field on Tuesday. The Bulldogs won both meetings in 2025.