BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[PNeal7]

I'm sure this will get the board stirred up, as I believe this is the longest into a season that anyone has gone without saying either a) Shenandoah shouldn't schedule teams like this or b) Take your starters out sooner.

I, personally, see it both ways. As a player, games like that are always fun and you hate to get taken out. It is a chance to increase some personal numbers and every individual players likes that. In addition, regardless of who you play against, you still have to make solid contact and find the holes in the defense (although PSU did make 4 errors, and we have established in previous years that it does not take solid contact to hit it out in LF at Shenandoah's current field). But, nonetheless, it does still require focus against an easy opponent, which a lot of teams struggle with. I know we often did at CNU during my time when playing the Galludet's of the world.

On the flip side, I do see where people would scream for starters to come out sooner, with the exception of maybe seniors. From looking at the box score, it looks like all starts got at least 4 AB's, with some getting as many as 6. While I am sure most of these occured during that 3rd inning onslaught, it sure does seem like starters probably could have been pulled a bit earlier. I understanding leaving some SR's in for more AB's since it is their last year (I have not looked at whether SU's lineup is loaded with SR's; if it is, disregard my comments), but the backups I'm sure would have loved to have seen the field a bit earlier.

[Boysofsummer21]

Our friends in GA had a big win yesterday as the lions knock off Marietta. Go Lions!

[D-BAT]

AU (4) GC (3)
SU (5) NCW (0)
CNU (0) MU (3)

(1) 4-1   11-04 ... SU
(2) 2-1   12-03 ... CNU
(3) 3-2   14-07 ... AU
(4) 2-2   13-05 ... FC
(5) 2-3   09-07 ... GC
(6) 1-2   13-08 ... MU
(7) 1-4   10-13 ... NCW

[PNeal7]

CNU splits with Methodist, with a 13-0 Sunday victory. Connor Madden hits his 3rd HR of the year, with Steven Lindenmuth hitting his 1st and 2nd of the year in the game. Greg Goldsmith improves to 2-0 on the season with a microscopic 0.35 ERA in 26 IP.

[LTBB1971]

NCWC splits with #22 Shenandoah 0-5 and 2-1 this weekend.  Saturday's game featured a weird 1st Inning by the Bishops comitting 3 errors which put NCWC behind 4-0 in which they were not able to recover.  SO Brandon Roberts pitched a gem but hitting besides C Tyler Clark was non-existent.

Sunday saw another pitchers duel with NCWC's SR Kaleb Wessel going 8.2 innings giving up only 5 hits and the bishops tying the game in the bottom of the 9th and winning it in the 11th.  I'm hoping this big win propels us to a winning streak.  Kaleb was just what the doctor ordered as he has been "MONEY" all year long on the mound.  C Tyler Clark and SS Jake Alexander had another great day at the plate.  Coach Long did insert some new blood in the lineup which I was happy to see. 

[D-BAT]

(1) 3-1   13-03 ... CNU
(2) 4-2   11-05 ... SU
(3) 2-2   13-05 ... FC
(3) 3-3   14-08 ... AU
(3) 3-3   10-07 ... GC
(6) 2-4   11-13 ... NCW
(7) 1-3   13-09 ... MU

[rolln2]

Ok some of the teams are now (6) games or half way thru the conference schedule w/ some of the others already having their bye.  Any surprises so far on the current standings, player performances etc?

[LTBB1971]

NCWC has played Ferrum, Averett and Shenandoah so far.  We got swept by Ferrum and their pitching really impressed me, specifically Chris Walker.  We split with Averett and this is a team I think that can cause some trouble as offensively I think they can swing the stick and they never give up.  We also split with Shenandoah and this is a team I was least impressed with as they are beatable if you can get to their bullpen.  2 solid starters, some decent hitters but not much of a bullpen with the exception of Matt Riegler.

As for NCWC, offensively the studs have been C Tyler Clark (expected), 3B Andre Nichols (expected), SS Jake Alexander (not expected) .  Tyler Clark has probably been the team MVP so far as kid is a RBI machine. 

Pitching, I have been completely wrong as the Bishops have a 3.61 team ERA and among SR Wessel, SR Flynn, SR Costa, SO Roberts, JR Swartout and SO Pleasant could all be a number 1 in any staff.  On the bullpen SO Will Beasley has been near perfect with a 0.82 ERA.

Defensively, NCWC is below average with issues at 1B, 2B, SS and 3B.  35 errors in 24 games is way too many and pitchers are having to bail out defenders every game.

[hasanova]

Guilford over Ferrum yesterday, 14-0, in Greensboro.  Quakers batted around and put 7 on the board in one of the early innings - not a good day for the Panthers' pitching or bats.

[D-BAT]

(1) 3-1   15-03 ... CNU
(2) 4-2   13-05 ... SU
(3) 3-3   14-07 ... GC
(3) 2-2   13-07 ... FC
(3) 3-3   14-10 ... AU
(6) 2-4   12-13 ... NCW
(7) 1-3   13-10 ... MU

[Boysofsummer21]

My observations and surprises so far;
1.   Lack of depth – except for CNU - have really been surprised by most team's lack of depth around starting pitching and bullpens. Seen teams that have a very good #1 then there is a big drop off to #2. They are going to need their #2s to step it up a bit. The number of teams that have a drop off from starters to bullpen is surprising also.
2.   CNU cold bats has surprise me as they have been very cold at the plate and still winning (pitching is good) so wondering if they will get on track.
3.   Power numbers at home – Shenandoah and Methodist have homerun numbers that are out of whack with almost all their power is at home.
4.   Is Scallion hurt? One game?
5.   Have seen Greensboro play 3 games and like where they are going, team never quits and is looking up. They are taking steps in the right direction
6.   Methodist record – thought and hoped that they would be in better shape at this point in the season.
7.   Ferrum's record, - Have not seen them yet but are they equal to their record or is their record more an indication of who they have played?

[D-BAT]

GB (3) SU (4)
CNU (2) Ferrum (0) 14 innings
MU (1) AU (2)
North Central, IL (4) NCW (6)


(1) 4-1   16-03 ... CNU
(2) 5-2   14-05 ... SU
(3) 4-3   15-10 ... AU
(4) 3-4   15-08 ... GC
(5) 2-3   13-08 ... FC
(6) 2-4   13-14 ... NCW
(7) 1-4   13-11 ... MU

[LTBB1971]

What a beautiful day yesterday at Bauer field and even better win for the Bishops 6-4 over North Central College.  JR Jake Swartout came in to shut down the door in the 9th as NCC had bases loaded with no outs and could not push a run across.  Offensively, FR 2B B. Guenguerich and FR LF S. Machin look to be back on track as both had very good games.  Team looked aggressive at the plate and it showed with 11 hits total.  One more total vs North Central before a tough week ahead.

[D-BAT]

Let me say this, Coach Maker has Greensboro baseball competing at an high level.  They have some legit players and will be a team that has an opportunity to compete for USA-South tourney championship.  I was impressed with their team!  A couple few things goes GB's way, then they could of won on Sunday and maybe Saturday too.

WINCHESTER, Va. - No. 20 Shenandoah University completed a USA South Conference sweep of its weekend baseball series versus Greensboro College with a 6-5 victory Sunday afternoon.

Shenandoah (15-5, 6-2 USA South) broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and then held on as GC (15-9, 3-5) attempted to rally in the ninth.

Designated hitter Steven Pfeiffer got the GC ninth started by being hit on the first offering from SU reliever Matt Riegler.

Anthony Catherina then singled before Grant Kelly cut the deficit in half with a double to center to score pinch runner Tony Fulsom.

Riegler, who was the winning pitcher on Saturday, then bore down and struck out Aaron Navarro, Josh Powell and Dan Melton to end the contest.

Melton went down looking on a 2-2 pitch.

SU, which trailed 4-1 after the Pride scored four unearned off of Hornets starter Cory Nelson (2-3) in the fourth, rallied with one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to tie it.

Shenandoah scored its two runs in the eighth on two hits, a walk and a crucial Greensboro error at second base.

Pinch hitter Andrew Creamer plated the first run with a single up the middle before freshman Corbin Lucas drove in what proved to be the game-winning run on a single to left.

Creamer plated Mike Minch, who reached second when Pride second baseman James Feldman could not handle a relay throw from third base on a Tucker Brown groundball.

Lucas had the victors first run with a solo HR in the third.

Brian Robbett took the loss for Greensboro, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and one walk in one inning of work.

Nelson gave up four runs (all unearned) on three hits and four walks in 8.0 innings.

It was Riegler's third save of the spring.

Shenandoah hosts future ODAC rival Randolph-Macon on Tuesday at 4:00 in a non-league contest.

[D-BAT]

GB (5) SU (6)
CNU (6) FC (7)
AU (3) MU (2)
North Central, IL @ NCW


(1) 6-2   15-05 ... SU
(2) 4-2   16-04 ... CNU
(3) 5-3   16-10 ... AU
(4) 3-3   14-08 ... FC
(5) 3-5   15-09 ... GC
(6) 2-4   13-14 ... NCW
(7) 1-5   13-12 ... MU