Rice tosses second no-hitter, Bishops sweep FSU

Rocky Mount, NC - For the second consecutive year, NC Wesleyan pitcher Blake Rice (pictured) tossed a complete game no-hitter in his first outing of the season.  The victim on Sunday, Frostburg State University, had just four runners reach base as Rice struck out seven and walked only two on the day.  The #7 Bishops took game one by a 2-0 score and went on to complete the twinbill sweep of the Bobcats with a 3-0 victory in game two behind a three-hit shutout by Kyle Robertson.  Wesleyan is now 5-0 to start the season.  FSU drops to 0-2.

Rice started out strong in the opener, striking out the first four batters he faced.  FSU starter John Micklus was equal to the task as the Bishops mustered just one hit in his 3.1 innings of work.  The hit, a bunt single by Matt Smith in the first, was the lone Wesleyan hit of the game.

Micklus, however, walked four and hit a batter.  The lefty kept NCWC in check by picking off three runners through the first three innings, but a lead-off walk to Chris Pecora in the fourth started a Bishop rally.

After Pecora stole second and third with one out, Micklus walked Smith.  Smith then got caught in a run-down between first and second, and Pecora took off in attempt to steal home.  A throwing error to the plate by FSU saw Pecora cross safely with the game's first run and Smith advance to second.  Later in the inning, a two-out fielding error plated Smith, unearned, giving Wesleyan a 2-0 lead without the benefit of a hit.

Both runs were credited to Micklus, who took the tough loss.  Scott Eastment tossed the final 2.2 scoreless innings for the Bobcats.

Rice’s no-no was similar to last season’s against Piedmont College.  With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, the All-American senior worked quickly and efficiently, facing just two batters past the minimum in the seven-inning contest.  The no-hitter is the fourth in Wesleyan history.  Prior to Rice's two in 2006 in 2007, the last Bishop no-no came in 1993.

In game two, the Bishops gave Robertson a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and it proved to be enough as the junior hurler tossed the second NCWC gem of the day in a three-hit shutout.

Wesleyan’s first run came at the hands of Smith, who walked, advanced to third on a Mark Wooten single, and scored on a FSU passed ball.  The Bishops tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth on a Wooten two-run double to left-center that secured the 3-0 victory.

The Bobcats threatened to score in the sixth when Bryan Short walked and stole second.  The ensuing single to right by Bryan Burke saw NCWC’s Pecora gun down Short at the plate to protect the shutout.

Wooten was 2-for-2 and Justin Batts 2-for 3 to pace the Bishops offensively, while on defense, shortstop Nathan West tied the program mark for assists with the 446th of his career in the fourth inning. 

Short, Burke, and Andrew Speights collected FSU’s only three hits of the day.

Robertson walked three and struck out four in 6.1 innings of work.  Batts came on in the seventh to record the final two outs of the game and earn his second save of the season. Bobcat starter Aaron Main took the loss after allowing two runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings pitched.

Wesleyan returns to action on Tuesday when the Bishops host Division II affiliate Mt. Olive College.  First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Bauer Field.

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