Woodlief's grand slam sends Bishops to twinbill sweep of GC

Rocky Mount, NC - Senior Zollie Woodlief (pictured) blasted his team-leading seventh homerun of the season on Wednesday afternoon, a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning that erased a two-run deficit and gave his Bishops an eventual 6-4 victory over Greensboro College at Bauer Field. Having earned a 5-3 win in the first game of the USA South twinbill, Woodlief's homer helped secure a two-game sweep of the Pride. NCWC improves to 19-14 on the season and 7-3 in league play. Greensboro drops to 13-19 overall, 2-6 in conference action.

In the opener, the Pride jumped on top 1-0 in the first when Ryan Laboy led off with a double to left-center and eventually came around to score.

Wesleyan tied the game on an RBI-single by Travis Beausoleil in the third, while an RBI-sac fly by Justin Tuck in the fourth gave the Bishops their first advantage, 2-1. The lead, however, was shortlived as Bobby Amato's solo shot in the fifth once again knotted the score.

NCWC proceeded to plate single runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings , thanks in part to solo homeruns by Daniel Moore and Justin Rahm. The scores were enough to give Wesleyan a 5-3 win.

Both starters went the distance with NCWC's Max Knowles receiving the win and moving to 5-1 on the season. The sophomore lefty gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits, while striking out 11 and walking none. GC's Alex Phetteplace (3-1) allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in the loss.

Laboy led all players with three hits in the game, while Moore paced Wesleyan with a 2-for-3 showing.

In the nightcap, Greensboro raced out to a 4-0 lead after 2 1/2 with a pair of runs in second and third innings. Amato drove in the first two with a RBI-single to center, while Clint DeHaven blasted a two-run shot to right-center in the third. Unfortunately for the Pride, it would be all the offense they would get.

The Bishops managed to scratch a run in the third before erupting for five runs in the seventh. Tuck led off the frame with a bunt single to third, only to see GC starter Gregory Allen record a strikeout and pop-up for the first two outs of the inning. Beausoleil kept the rally alive with a single to center, which prompted a pitching change for the Pride.

Luke Williford greeted Michael Manfro (1-5) with an RBI-double down the right field line to make the score 4-2, and Greensboro subsequently elected to intentionally walk Justin Batts to load the bases.  Woodlief then delivered his towering blast to left-center that put the Bishsops on top for good.

NCWC starter Jonathan Shearon (3-4) earned the win, going seven complete and allowing four runs on nine hits. Junior John Child picked up his fifth save by tossing a scoreless eighth and ninth.

Offensively for Wesleyan, Beausoleil and Batts had two hits apiece. DeHaven was 2-for-3 for GC.

The Bishops wrap up USA South play this weekend at Shenandoah University. Wesleyan will face off against the Hornets on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
 

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