Lions Sweep Pioneers in Saturday Doubleheader; SMC Honors Coach Wallace
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bryan (TN) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 8 |
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bryan (TN) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
SPARTANBURG, SC – Visiting Bryan College swept a Saturday doubleheader against Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC), overcoming defensive struggles in the opener and surviving a late-inning rally in the nightcap to secure 13-8 and 8-7 victories. Before the first pitch, the Pioneers held a special ceremony to retire jersey No. 11 in honor of longtime head coach Tim Wallace.
In the first contest, Bryan battled back from 4-0 and 6-5 deficits despite committing eight errors on the day. The Lions' offense found its rhythm in the third inning, plating four runs to tie the game, before taking a permanent lead with a three-run sixth. A five-run seventh inning ultimately put the game out of reach, fueled largely by the top four hitters in the Lions' order, who combined for nine hits, nine runs, and 11 RBI. SMC's effort was led by multi-hit games from Matt Smith, Blake Exizian, Dario Astudillo, Elijah Franz, and Kohen Bridges, with Franz and Jarian Pinckney each driving in two runs.
The second game was a high-stakes affair that remained tied at 2-2 until a wild fifth inning. Bryan broke the deadlock by scoring six runs on five hits to take a commanding 8-2 lead. However, the Pioneers nearly staged a historic comeback in the bottom half of the frame. After loading the bases, Matt Smith emptied them with a three-RBI double down the left-field line. Following singles by Jarian Pinckney and Evan Smith, a wild pitch brought SMC within a single run and placed the tying run on second base. The rally ended dramatically when pinch hitter Brady Jeffcoat singled after a ten-pitch at-bat, but Payne Sheriff was thrown out at home to preserve the Lions' narrow victory. Matt Smith finished the second game with two hits, two runs, and four RBI, while Jarian Pinckney added two hits and two runs for the Pioneers.
SMC will look to bounce back as they continue their homestand this week, hosting CIU for a three-game series. The weekend set is scheduled to begin this Friday, April 3, at 5 p.m.
