April 15, 2006

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, NC—St. Andrews rallied from a one-run deficit with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference rival Pfeiffer University, 3-2, in Saturday’s rubber game during the Knights ‘Senior Day’ at Clark Field.

SAPC improved to 20-27 overall and 9-15 in the CVAC, while the Falcons fell to 21-31 and 11-13.

Before today’s game, first year head coach Chris Chaffinch honored the Knights four seniors: first baseman Greg Wrape (Hamlet, NC), pitcher/outfielder Anthony Mehling (Pottsville, PA), pitcher/third baseman Brad Smith (Riegelwood, NC) and pitcher Scott Adams (Vernon Hill, VA).

In a pitchers duel, Pfeiffer clawed out the first run of the contest in the sixth inning. Senior Mike McClain (Stoney Creek, NC) started the one-out rally with a single through the right side of the infield. With McClain sent into motion on the full count delivery, junior Blake Jordan (Haw River, NC) drilled a double to the left field wall that plated McClain just before the throw home.

The Knights quickly answered in the bottom half of the sixth. Junior outfielder Adam Stemple (Holly Springs, GA) led off with a double to right field. Stemple, who moved over to third on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt, scored on a sophomore Jose Rodriguez (Orlando, FL) sacrifice fly.

The Falcons regained a slim 2-1 lead in top of the ninth on an RBI-triple by freshman Chris Dove (Burlington, NC).

The Knights did not go quietly on ‘Senior Day’ as Wrape started the last at-bat rally with a one-out double down the left field line. Junior Ritchie Priest (Elizabethtown, NC), who was starting in his first game after a leg injury, legged out an infield single to shortstop by diving into first base while Wrape crossed home plate for the tying run. Sophomore B.J. Horne (Hamlet, NC) kept the momentum going with a single through the left side. Stemple followed with his game-high third hit that eventually produced the game-ending run. Stemple dribbled a slow grounder to second and beat out the ensuing throw with a head-first dive into the bag. The Pfeiffer throw was tossed wide into the Falcon dugout allowing Priest to trot home.

Mehling (4-4) won the battle of the mound with a complete-game victory allowing two runs on 12 hits while striking out seven. Freshman Nick Daniels (Concord, NC) also went the distance for Pfeiffer, giving up three runs (two earned) on 11 hits while striking out four in 8 2/3 innings.

St. Andrews visits local non-conference rival UNC Pembroke on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in their last tune-up before the 2006 CVAC Baseball Tournament in Wilson, NC, on April 21-23.

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