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Bishops take three-game set from Eastern Mennonite
 Rocky
Mount, NC - The
Battling Bishop baseball squad of North Carolina Wesleyan
completed a three-game sweep of Eastern Mennonite on Sunday
afternoon, earning a dominating 21-3 victory over the Royals
at Bauer Field. The Bishops tallied 22 hits as a team, led
by Travis Beausoleil and Matt Smith (pictured) at the top of
the order, who combined to go 8-for-8 with eight runs
scored. With 5-2 and 4-0 wins over EMU on Saturday, the
Bishops are now 3-1 to start the 2008 season.
In
Sunday’s series finale, EMU jumped out to an early lead with
an unearned run in the top of the first. Micah Grizzell
walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. He later
scored on a Zach Polloni infield single.
But
the Royals’ lead was short-lived as the Bishops plated two
in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Matt Smith ripped
an RBI-triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Wesleyan
then went on to pad its lead in the second and third when
Beausoleil and Jason Webb each blasted solo homeruns to left
field.
EMU
plated its second run in the top of the fourth on a Colten
Herald RBI. The Royals had four hits in the frame and
looked to pull within one on a Ben Wise single to left.
NCWC’s Luke Williford, however, gunned down Herald at the
plate to end the inning.
The
Bishops then put to rest any thoughts of a comeback with a
10-spot in their half of the inning. The big blow came from
the bat of freshman Justin Rahm, who blasted a grand slam to
left center. Senior Chris Pecora also belted a two-run
homer in the frame.
Wesleyan added seven insurance runs in their final three
at-bats. Freshmen Daniel Moore, Ben Stewart, and Bradley
Taylor each recorded their first career hits in the sixth,
while Justin Batts recorded a two-run homer in the seventh,
the Bishops' fifth of the contest.
Freshman Max Knowles tossed five innings, striking out five
and allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits en route to
the victory. Richard Wall, David Krasnoweicki, and Andrew
Webb combined to throw the final four innings.
On
Saturday, game one saw freshman lefty Justin Diener toss a
complete game in his first collegiate start. Diener allowed
two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and
striking out seven. Jesse Baker suffered the loss for EMU.
Offensively, Smith went 4-for-4 with a run scored and an
RBI. Freshman Jason Gay also enjoyed a perfect game at the
plate with a 2-for-2 showing and a walk. Grizzell, Chris
Handler, and Cody Davis each had hits for the Royals.
The
nightcap proved to be a pitcher’s dual over the first four
innings as neither team was able to plate a run. Wesleyan
finally broke through with a run in the fourth when pinch
runner Joel Creef stole second, advanced to third on a
Justin Rahm single, and later scored on a wild pitch.
Freshman Zach Alexander broke things open the following
inning when he delivered a two-run homer to left-center.
Batts then closed out the 4-0 shutout in the seventh.
Senior
Jonathan Shearon earned the win on the mound, scattering two
hits and striking out three in six innings of work. Michael
Moles took the loss for the Royals.
The
Bishops travel to the University of Mary Washington for a
single game on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
in Fredericksburg, VA.
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