SMC Splits on First Day of CAC Showdown

Lawrenceville, Georgia – The Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team split its two matchups as part of the CAC Showdown in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on Friday. The Pioneers began the day with a 10-9 come-from-behind win over Carolina University and ended the day with an 8-0 loss to host No. 2 Georgia Gwinnett.

In the win over Carolina University, SMC rallied from a 9-7 deficit to plate two runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Then, in the ninth, the first three Pioneers reached base to load the bases for Jarian Pinckney, who was hit by a pitch to bring home pinch runner Lane Schrader.

Offensively, SMC recorded nine hits, with Matt Smith, Parker Winfield, and Matthew Cannon each tallying a pair. Smith, Pinckney, and Justin Dawkins each drove in two runs in the win. On the mound, four pitchers took the hill for the Pioneers. Carson Matthews closed out the game, pitching three innings of one-hit relief and striking out seven to earn the win.

Game two saw the nationally ranked Grizzlies stifle the potent SMC offense, limiting them to just four hits. After scoring one run each in the second, third, and fifth innings, Georgia Gwinnett broke the game open with a five-run sixth. Three different Grizzlies had two hits in the win, while Anthony Patterson held the Pioneers in check with eight strikeouts to raise his record to 4-2.

Out of the gate, the Pioneers picked up singles from Leo Lopez and Dario Astudillo before Patterson induced a groundout to escape the jam. Double plays proved to be Patterson and Georgia Gwinnett's best friend, ending SMC threats in the third and fourth innings.

SMC will face the same two teams on Saturday, taking on the Bruins at 11 a.m. and the Grizzlies at 2 p.m.