Eagles' Bats Silent in 8-1 Loss at Limestone
March 31, 2009
GAFFNEY, S.C.-- The Limestone College Saints collected their 20th win of the season with an 8-1 victory over the visiting Carson-Newman College Eagles Tuesday afternoon at Bob Prevatte Field. Limestone jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as it improves to 20-16 on the season. Carson-Newman falls to 17-16 on the year. The Saints outhit the Eagles 13-5.
Michael McAbee (Boiling Springs, S.C.) had a dominating performance as he almost went the distance for the Saints. McAbee scattered five hits in 8 1/3 innings to run his record to 3-2. He allowed an unearned run while he struck out four and walked three.
The Saints jumped out a 2-0 lead off of Carson-Newman starter, D.J. Ferguson (Jupiter, Fla.). Conference Carolina Player of the Week Aldo Mendez (Cidra, Puerto Rico) singled with a man down. He stole second before coming home to score on a two-run bomb by Drew Lydon (White Plains, Md.). Lydon, who leads the Saints with 6 homers and 52 RBIs, finished the afternoon going 1-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Mendez went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
In the top of the second, the Eagles cut Limestone's lead to 2-1. Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Tyler Wynn (LaGrange, Ga.) hit consecutive one-out singles. Both runners advanced on an error. Morgan Gregory (Nashville, Tenn.) followed with an infield single to load the bases. Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) drove in Rogers with an RBI sacrifice fly for the Eagles' lone run. The Eagles had three of their five hits in the second inning.
Carson-Newman attempted a two-out rally in the top of the fourth as Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.) doubled, but McAbee was able to get Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) to fly out to end the threat. Dozier's double and walk led the Eagles offense.
The Saints plated a run in the bottom of the third. Adam Vafides (Niceville, Fla.) used his third double of the season to lead off the inning before he eventually came home to score on an RBI single by Mendez. Vafides collected two hits, a walk, and a run scored in the game.
Ferguson was pulled with three innings in the book after he allowed three runs on four hits and a walk. He finished with one strikeout. Dustin Davis (Knoxville, Tenn.) allowed two hits as he came in on relief for the Eagles in the fourth inning.
In the fifth, Eagles reliever Michael Elliott (Chattanooga, Tenn.) plunked Lydon to start the frame. David Christy (Greenville, S.C.) moved Lydon over with a sacrifice bunt and then Seth Austin (Hurdle Mills, N.C.) drove him in with an RBI single to give Limestone a 4-1 lead.
Ryan McKenzie (Dunedin, Fl.) laced a leadoff double in the sixth inning. Tim Welsh (Kalamazoo, Mich.) belted his fifth homer of the year, giving the Saints a 6-1 advantage. After a walk to Vafides, Greg Daily (Baltimore, Md.) reached base on an error that sent Vafides to third. Dailey proceeded to rip off his 19th bag of the year before Mendez drove home Vafides with an RBI groundout. That closed the book on Elliott's afternoon as he allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. With a runner on third and one out, Chase Boruff (Knoxville, Tenn.) came on for the Eagles. He allowed the inherited runner to score on an RBI groundout to Lydon, pushing the Limestone scoring margin to 8-1. Boruff induced Christy into a fly out to end the inning. Boruff went 1 2/3 innings, allowing but two hits in the game.
Jake McDonald (Shelbyville, Ky.) finished the game for the Eagles. He gave up two hits in one inning pitched. Brian Dearstine (College Park, Md.) closed the door for the Saints, working 2/3 of an inning.
Welsh finished with two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored for the Saints. Austin collected two hits and an RBI, his 28th of the year. Dailey and McKenzie had two hits and a run scored apiece. McKenzie collected his fourth double of the year.
For the Eagles, Mason Guymon (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) and Wynn each collected hits. Gregory finished the afternoon going 1-for-2 with a walk. Rogers chipped in a hit and a run scored. Long walked once while Vargas added an RBI.
Limestone hits the road for two games. The Saints travel to play Mars Hill College on Wednesday. The Saints will play at North Greenville University on Friday. The Saints return home this Saturday for Senior Day when they host North Greenville University in a doubleheader as they wrap up the home schedule for the season. Game one is set for 12 p.m. Carson-Newman hosts Pfeiffer University tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.
