No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan Pulls Away Late to Defeat SMC, 7-4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
|
Tennessee Wesleyan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 7 | 9 | 1 |
No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan scored the final three runs to break a 4-4 tie with Spartanburg Methodist College and secure a 7-4 win on Tuesday afternoon.
SMC (16-14) rallied from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game in the fourth inning before the host Bulldogs (25-9) plated two runs in the seventh and added an insurance run in the eighth to seal the victory.
Elijah Franz and Brady Jeffcoat each recorded two hits to lead the Pioneers' nine-hit attack, while the Bulldogs were paced by a pair of two-hit performances from Ethan Wright and David Ballenilla.
An RBI single by Matt Smith and a groundout by Blake Exizian in the fourth inning evened the score at 4-4. However, a two-run home run by Wright in the seventh proved to be the difference. Tennessee Wesleyan tacked on an additional run in the eighth for the final margin.
SMC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI doubles from Tanner Wright and Jeffcoat before the Bulldogs responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Pioneers return home next for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m. against Bryan at Mooneyham Field.
