Crusaders open week with dominating performance, end on a sour note with losses to Limestone
Posted by The Skyliner on April 8th, 2009Cory Guinn
Staff Writer
The North Greenville baseball team traveled to Anderson University on Mar. 31 in a rematch against their cross-town rival. The game was threatened by rain and clouds overhead, but the Crusader’s brought the storm instead.
NGU scored three runs in the third inning and one in the eighth which proved enough for starting pitcher Devin Vance, senior business, to go the distance and pick up the win. Vance threw a complete game allowing only one run on five hits and striking out 10 Trojan batters in a 4-1 North Greenville victory.
“Vance really had a solid performance today,” head coach Travis Henson said. “He had great command of his pitches and he turned in one of the best single game performances by a pitcher this season.”
Vance was supported by a strong and steady offense. Derek Fulmer, freshman undecided, continued his hot streak and led the Crusaders, going 2-for-4 at the plate and driving in one run. Center fielder Rand Stegall, junior business, and infielder Dayton Lupton, junior sports management, both had sacrifice bunts in the explosive third inning which led to two runs being scored when first baseman Tyler Callicutt, junior accounting, came to bat and hit an RBI double.
“We were able to play smart baseball.“ Fulmer said. “Instead of giving up the big inning we were able to minimize our errors and be productive on offense.”
On April 2 the Crusaders put together a furious late-inning rally that came up just short, dropping their game against Erskine College 7-6 at Ashmore Field.
NGU scored in the third inning off of a solo home run by shortstop David Frazier, freshman sport management, who led the Crusaders on offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate and driving in three runs. His final two RBI came in the fourth inning when he knocked in Callicutt and Jacob Goetze, freshman business management.
NGU entered the seventh inning down by four runs but the Flying Fleet into a corner with a rally that was cut short. The inning began when left fielder Chris Harbit, sophomore biology, hit a solo shot for his first career home run. NGU then got the bases loaded and catcher Anthony Foulk, freshman sports management, walked to plate another Crusader run. The late-inning comeback ended on a close play at first base and Erskine came away with the victory.
North Greenville was involved in a slugfest with in-state rival Limestone College on Apr. 3 in Tigerville. Limestone out hit NGU 15-12, and four errors cost the Crusaders the game as Limestone walked away with a 16-8 victory.
Limestone scored three runs in the second inning to take an early lead, but blew the game open with six runs in the sixth. The Saints scored five more runs in the seventh inning to fully take control of the game.
Fulmer, North Greenville’s leading hitter with a .352 batting average, added to his stellar season by finishing 4-for-4 and scoring three runs. Callicutt had three hits in the game, including a home run and a double, and knocked in three runs and scored two runs of his own. Goetze went 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBI’s in the game.
The Crusaders (7-30) traveled to Gaffney, S.C., the next day to play in a double header with the Saints from Limestone College. The North Greenville pitching staff was unable to slow down the Limestone offense as NGU dropped both games by scores of 12-5 and 11-4.
In the first game, Limestone took an early four run lead but North Greenville was able to battle back in the third inning and tie the game a four apiece. The score did not stay close for long as the Saints pulled away with solid hitting through the rest of the game.
Infielder Dylan Fulk, freshman education, had his best game of the season finishing the game 2-for-3 with one RBI. Stegall collected two hits, including a double, and a stolen base and two runs scored while Fulmer finished with one RBI. Callicutt, Foulk, and Harbit each scored a run in the game.
As for the second game of the day, Limestone jumped out to an early lead and never looked back after scoring six runs in the opening inning.
Callicutt led North Greenville in game two by going 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, a walk, and 2 RBIs. Foulk finished with two hits and an RBI while Lupton finished with two hits and a run scored.
The Crusaders travel to Harrogate, Tenn., tomorrow to take on Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson City, Tenn., on Wednesday to play against Carson Newman. NGU’s next home game will be April 10 against Brevard College at Ashmore Field.
Tags: Spring 2009, Vol. 108 - Issue 8