Crusaders continue winning, dominate SWU and Brevard
Posted by The Skyliner on April 7th, 2010Billy Cannada
Staff Writer
Crusader second baseman Brian Giles races down the base line to beat out a throw. The Crusaders, who are now 27-2 on the season, are on a five-game winning streak after sweeping last week’s contests against Southern Wesleyan and Brevard. (Photo by Gabe Franco)
The North Greenville baseball team has had a dominating week, winning five straight games to move its overall record to 27-7.
“The team’s confidence is really peaking right now,” said outfielder Adam Taylor, freshman business administration. “We know that we can beat anyone we play as long as we play the right way and execute our game plan.”
The Crusaders began their week by securing a 9-3 win over Truett McConnell College. Anthony Foulk, sophomore sport management, was the story for North Greenville offensively, going 2-3 with two RBI and a home run. Rand Stegall, senior business, also had a hot bat, going 3-5 with three runs scored.
The Crusaders continued their success by sweeping a double header with Southern Wesleyan University on March 31.
The Crusaders were hot offensively in the first game, scoring 12 runs in the first five innings in their 12-2 win. Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, led the way for North Greenville, going 3-4 with five RBI. Taylor also had an impressive performance in the first game, going 2-4 with 3 RBI.
North Greenville was in for a tough battle in the second game, but the results were still the same, as the Crusaders ground out a 9-6 win. The Crusaders were down by five runs in the fifth inning before exploding for nine straight runs on just three hits. Taylor was 2-4 with a run batted in, and Dayton Lupton also contributed two RBI in the contest. Nate Richards only pitched 1 2/3 innings, but it was enough to earn him the win, as he pitched a solid outing with no hits and no runs. The two wins gave North Greenville the 4-0 series victory over Southern Wesleyan.
“The season is very strenuous,” said star freshman Taylor. “So it is good to know that we have a lot of depth.”
The Crusaders off started their Easter weekend right, as their ace pitcher Drew Provence, sophomore marketing, propelled them to a14-2 victory. Provence is now a perfect 8-0 on the season from the mound, and he pitched a stellar game, throwing six innings and only giving up one run on six hits. Offensively, the Crusaders were led by Fulmer, who was 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Foulk was also a key for North Greenville’s success, as he was a perfect 2-2 from the plate with four runs scored and two RBI.
Brevard did not have an answer for the North Greenville offense all weekend, as the Crusaders swept a double header with the Tornadoes on April 3.
Michael Benjamin, junior business administration, got the start on the mound for the Crusaders in game one. He pitched seven innings, gave up four runs and struck out three batters in a 5-4 win. Benjamin got some help from Stegall, who went 1-3 with one RBI, and Fulmer, who went 1-1 on the day.
The second game of the double header was dominated by Jeff Witt, freshman accounting, who pitched an 8-0 shutout, striking out eight batters. Taylor and Fulmer both contributed offensively going, 2-4 in game two.
The success continues to come for North Greenville, but the team has not yet reached its ultimate goal. And they don’t plan to stop until they do.
“We are on pace to accomplish our goals,” said Taylor. “But we will not accomplish the main goal until we have a ring on our fingers from a National Championship.”
The Crusaders (27-7) took the field again yesterday against Emmanuel College, and will play again today at 2 p.m. against Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 10