February 02, 2006

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, NC— Junior Cliff Allred (Franklinville, NC) just missed hitting three home runs, helping first year head coach Chris Chaffinch and the St. Andrews Presbyterian College baseball team to a 9-4 victory over visiting UNC Pembroke on Thursday at Clark Field.

It marked the first win for the Knights (1-1) and Chaffinch while the Braves open the season 0-1.

“Of course your first college win is the one you will always remember,” expressed Chaffinch. “In my mind, we came out swinging today compared to yesterday (an 8-2 loss against Wingate).”

Sophomore Kevin Dietrich (Charlotte, NC) connected on a two-run homer to left-center in the second to give UNC Pembroke an early 2-0 lead.

St. Andrews tied everything at two apiece in the bottom of the third on two consecutive RBI groundouts to short by sophomore Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, NC) and senior Brad Smith (Riegelwood, NC).

After senior Aaron Perkins (Leland, NC) doubled down the left field line, Dietrich broke up the 2-2 tie with a double to right field that scored Perkins.

Allred led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to left that squared everything at 3-3. Later in the inning, sophomore Jose Rodriguez (Orlando, FL) provided the Knights with their first lead with a double up the middle that plated freshman Jason Cargile (Greenville, NC).

A Perkins sacrifice fly in the sixth scored sophomore Jason Morales (Fayetteville, NC); who led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a fly ball.

Tied 4-4, St. Andrews broke the game open with five runs in the seventh. Allred, who settled for a double in the fifth with a shot that bounced just below the yellow line on the left-center field fence, made sure his two-run shot to the same spot had no doubts to start the rally in the seventh. Junior Ritchie Priest (Elizabethtown, NC) and senior Will Clark (Laurinburg, NC) followed with back-to-back singles that set up Cargile’s first collegiate home run, a three-run shot just inside the left field poll.

“After Cliff got the first one, it opened up the gates for the rest of the team,” explained Chaffinch.

Red shirt freshman Ryan Kirkman (Liberty, NC) went six solid innings in his first start for St. Andrews. Senior Scott Adams (Vernon Hill, VA) got the win with one shutout inning while sophomore T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, PA) faced the minimum over the final two innings. Both Kirkman and Chrusch had three strikeouts apiece.

“Kirkman’s first start couldn’t have been any better. We expect big things out of him and he should put our team in good situations all season,” concluded Chaffinch.

Junior Cody Crotts (Lewisville, NC) took the loss in relief of junior Jacob Allen (Greenville, NC), who allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out three in five innings of work.

The Knights will try and avenge their season-opening loss to Wingate on Saturday, when they visit the Bulldogs in Wingate, NC. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.

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