March 11, 2006

Game 1; Game 2

HARTSVILLE, SC—St. Andrews Presbyterian College continued to play great baseball on Saturday, sweeping Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference rival and host Coker College 10-7 and 10-2.

The Knights, who have won nine of their last 10 games in the last 14 days, improved to 13-11 overall and 5-6 in the CVAC. The Cobras fell to 9-14-1 overall and 0-10 in the league.

In the first game, Coker grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but St. Andrews would answer with two runs of their own in the top half of the third. The Knights held the lead until the bottom of the fifth when Coker surged ahead with five runs off six hits, including a three run double by Nic Fletcher and a run scoring double by Ben Davidson.

The Knights scored two in the seventh, but Coker scored in the bottom of the inning making it 7-4 as they entered the eighth. It was then that the St. Andrews hitting came around and Coker’s fielding faltered, as the Knights scored six runs on four hits and an error, taking the 10-7 advantage.

St. Andrews sophomore closer T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, PA) came on the in the ninth to close out the Cobras and secure the victory. Knights’ senior pitcher Scott Adams (Vernon Hill, VA) improved to 2-1, earning the win tossing three innings and allowing one run in relief, while Chrusch garnered his seventh save of the season. Freshman starter Ryan Kirkman (Liberty, NC) had four strikeouts in five innings of work while Adams and Chrusch fanned three Cobras apiece.

For Coker, Steven Dill (2-3) took the loss, going seven and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, with four strike outs.

For Coker offensively, Nic Fletcher was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs, while Ben Davidson was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

The Knights were led by sophomore Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, NC), who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and senior Anthony Mehling (Pottsville, PA), going 2-for-5 with three RBI.

St. Andrews kept the momentum in the nightcap, finding every hole on the field in the first inning. The Knights scored nine runs off eight hits and two errors. St. Andrews added their tenth run in the fourth inning and Coker scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth.

Coker starter Seth Weinberg (2-1) took the loss after throwing two-thirds of an inning, allowing nine runs off eight hits. Kyle Strickland finished the game for the Cobras going six and a third innings scattering nine hits and allowing one run with three strike outs.

As for St. Andrews, junior Ryan Curley (Emmaus, PA) earned the win throwing a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and a walk. Curley’s (4-3) nine K’s ties a season-high for the leftie.

Junior Cliff Allred (Franklinville, NC) led the Knights offensively going 3-for-5 with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored. Senior Greg Wrape (Hamlet, NC) was also 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

On the day, Allred, Eastwood, senior Brad Smith (Riegelwood, NC), and junior Ritchie Priest (Elizabethtown, NC) all had four hits apiece for SAPC. Mehling and senior Will Clark (Laurinburg, NC) both drove in four Knights runs.

St. Andrews will be going for the three-game sweep of the Cobras when the two teams meet in Sunday’s finale at 1:00 p.m.

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