Baseball Drops Pair to Wrap Up Opening Weekend

Cochran, Ga. –  The Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team dropped a 4-2 decision to host Middle Georgia State in a seven-inning contest on Saturday afternoon. The host Knights scored a run in the fifth and sixth to break a 2-2 tie on its way to the win.

The Pioneers (0-2) were limited to just four hits by three-different Middle Georgia State pitchers.

Middle Georgia State (3-0) scored twice in the first before SMC came with two in the second to tie it. Then, they regained the lead on a sacrifice fly in the fifth and picked up an insurance run on an RBI single in the sixth on its way to the win.

With two out, an RBI single by Justin Dawkins scored pinch runner Nic Degler cut the deficit to 2-1. Then, a fielding error by the Knights shortstop brought in Dawkins to tie the game later in the inning.

SMC used three pitchers in the contest with Carson Matthews being the tough-luck loser. The Knights also used three pitchers with Titus Richardson allowing just a hit in three innings of relief. He handed the ball off to Carter Oglageo, who retired the Pioneers in order for the save.

Game 2 vs. Brewton-Parker College

Spartanburg Methodist College and Brewton Parker College combined for 17 runs and 22 hits on Saturday afternoon as the Barons came away with a 12-5 win over the Pioneers.

Both teams plated runs in the first three innings as BPC built a 10-4 advantage on its way to the win. Each team plated a run in the first before the Barons plated five in its half of the second for a 6-2 lead on its way to the win. In the inning, a two-RBI double by Marquette Gibson and three-RBI double by Jeremi Lara put the Barons in front for the remainder of the contest.

The SMC offense was led by Justin Dawkins, who had three hits and two RBI in the loss. Dario Austudillo and Blake Exizan each had two hits for the Pioneers.

The Brewton Parker offense was led by Lara, who finished the contest with three hits and six RBI to lead BPC. Gibson and Carson Kirby each had two hits as six-different Barons had a hit in the win.

Down 6-2 in the third, an RBI ground out and an RBI single by the Pioneers cut the deficit to two, 6-4. The Barons came back with four to make it a 10-4. Then, it became a pitcher's duel. For SMC, Dylan Willis pitched three innings of middle relief, where he allowed just two hits to silence the Barons bat. For the Barons, Jack Hulse, also in middle relief, pitched four innings of three-hit relief.

SMC used four pitchers with starter Tyler Davis going 1.2 innings in the loss. BPC starter Grant Cochran picked up the win after a three-inning stint after giving the ball over to Hulse and Caleb Strott, who went the final six innings.

Next, the Pioneers will host St. Andrews on Tuesday for a doubleheader for the home opener at 1 p.m.