BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Captains notch another win today by knocking off Randolph-Macon, 11-7. Trae Bailey drove in six runs, including smacking a three-run shot and totaled four hits. Ryan McDougal had two hits and Eric Cole also homered. Brandon Berry had a solid start by throwing five innings and allowing three runs on three hits. CNU is now 4-1 and play Villa Julie, at home, again, on Saturday at noon. They then have Bridgewater and Salisbury at home on Sunday.

[NCWC]

Chalk another one up for the USAS

[A.G.]

Guess that makes up for the loss Averett took from the hands of Guilford. 

[NCWC]

Wheelin Wes, How is it looking for tomorrow.  Any idea what the rotation will be through the weekend?


Its hard to believe that Conference games start next weekend (March 1).  Hopefully, Old Westbury will have a pitcher that simulates Kenny Moreland.

[WHEELIN WES]

NCWC....Game today with Cortland was canceled due to heavy rain in the state, which we really need the rain here in NC, but I think everyone was looking forward to that game. I think they will be able to get the 3 game series with Westbury in on Saturday and Sunday. The way I understand the rotation as of now, it will be Robertson, Diener, and Moore against Westbury in that order with Knowles and Roenker against Capital next Wed. and Thur. Yes, it's hard to believe but February is all but gone and conference play starts on the road next weekend. Hopefully the Bishops can roll into Newport on a 6 game winning streak.

[Catfishncwc]

NCWC sweeps DH from Old Westbury.  robertson throws a 7 inning 1 hit 10 k shutout.  Can't want to see my boys play next weekend at CNU.   
Hope to see a Robertson/Moreland matchup. 

[NCWC]

Wesleyan baseball takes four from Old Westbury

Rocky Mount, NC - North Carolina Wesleyan's baseball team enjoyed two doubleheader sweeps over the weekend, taking a four-game set from SUNY Old Westbury at Bauer Field on Saturday and Sunday. Justin Diener, Kyle Robertson, Ben Moore, and Doug Roenker all picked up wins on the mound for the Bishops, who improved to 9-2 with the victories.  Old Westbury is now 0-4 to start the season.

Saturday saw the Bishops earn 13-8 and 1-0 wins, respectively.

In the series opener, both teams struggled defensively as a host of unearned runs led to a 6-5 Wesleyan lead after three innings of play.

Thanks to a pair two-run singles by Matt Smith and Ted Williams, the Bishops were able to open the game up with a seven-spot in the fifth.  The Panthers answered with three runs of their own in the seventh, but it was too little to late as NCWC cruised to the victory.

David Collado paced the Panther offense with two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored.  Williams was 3-for-4 to lead the Bishops, who tallied 12 hits as a team.

On the mound, Diener (2-0) picked up the win and George Pagan (0-1) the loss.

Game two featured a pitcher's dual between Wesleyan's Kyle Robertson and Old Westbury's Rob Whitenack.  Robertson (2-0) was nearly untouchable in a complete game one-hit shutout.  He also tallied an impressive ten strikeouts.

Whitenack was just as effective in six complete innings of two-hit baseball.  He was pulled prior to the seventh in favor of Jake Tauber (0-1), who suffered the loss after giving up the game's only run.

After Jason Gay was hit by a Tauber offering to lead off the inning, Bishop head coach Charlie Long called on the speedy Joel Creef to pinch run.  Creef was promptly advanced to second by a Justin Tuck sacrifice bunt and scored by a walk-off single to right by freshman Justin Rahm for the 1-0 final.

In Sunday's first game, Wesleyan plated six runs over the first three innings, which was more than enough for Moore. Moore (2-1) struck out ten and allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits in the complete game effort.

Offensively, Smith and Justin Batts each had two hits and two RBI for the Bishops, who went on to plate three insurance runs in the fifth for a 9-2 final.

Collado (0-1) took the loss for the Panthers.  He allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits while walking six in two innings of work.

The series finale saw the Bishops open up a 4-0 advantage after three. Creef and Smith plated Wesleyan's first two runs with sacrifice flies, while Batts blasted a two-run homer over the pine trees in left to score runs three and four.

Old Westbury cut the lead in half with two runs on three hits in the fourth. Collado's RBI-single to left scored the Panthers' first run, while the second came on a first and third situation that saw Collado get caught stealing.

Smith later added an insurance run on yet another sac-fly, while Luke Williford, Jason Webb, and Chris Pecora all drove in runs to complete a six-run fifth and 10-2 final.

Roenker (1-0) went five innings and allowed two runs on nine hits.  He also struck out six and walked none. Tom Butler (0-1) took the loss for the Panthers.

The Bishops return to action on Wednesday when they play host to Capital University. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Bauer Field.

[NCWC]

Regarding the last post.  I thought the biggest weakness for the Bishops this year was going to be the pitching staff.  I know it is early yet, but they have been pretty impressive.  Catfish and wheelin wes, who would have thought they would have made so many errors already.  They cant keep that  5 error a game pace up through conference.  Game four featured a pretty talented group of freshman.

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Captains split two games over the weekend. They lost to Villa Julie 5-3 Saturday. They had the bases loaded and one or no one out and only scored once.

CNU bounced back for a 9-1 win over Bridgewater on Sunday. Kenny Moreland had another outstanding performance on the hill, going 8 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walked none and struckout 12 (again) to win his second outting of the year.

The Captains host VA Wesleyan Tuesdaya at 2:30.

[WHEELIN WES]

The Bishops had a good 4 game series this weekend with very strong pitching and solid hitting with a lot of timely hits to drive in runs. The pitching and hitting is coming into place, but they must stop leading in the last column on the score board or they will cease to lead on the first column. The errors that were made this weekend were not really tough errors, more of lack of focus. I think and hope they will get that cleaned up quick. NCWC... the freshman are really contributing and playing well. The freshman SS, Rahm, really stepped up with clutch hitting and outstanding defense in the field.   

[Catfishncwc]

Can't wait to see NCWC play this weekend.  Finally get a good look at these freshman. 
Any body going to be at the Methodist vs.  NCWC game on the 15th.  I think I am going so I can get another look at Kivett and whatever else MU may have to offer the Braves.

[A.G.]

I noticed Shelton got lit up for the 2nd straight outing...only throwing 1 IP vs Emory and Henry.  Does anyone know if he's hurting on the mound, b/c he is still getting time out in the outfield.

[NCWC]

Someone told me that he wasn't planning on coming back to Averett after last season, that may have something to do with it.

[A.G.]

We faced him last year, so if he pitches tomorrow against us I'll offer some comparisons.

[WHEELIN WES]

Catfish... I'll be there for both games. Looking forward to seeing this match up. I hope we have some great weather that weekend.