February 12, 2008

Game 1
Game 2

MURFREESBORO, N.C.—Junior designated hitter Kyle Norris (Laurel Hill, N.C.) went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and three walks to lead visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian College to a doubleheader split with non-conference Chowan University on Tuesday afternoon at Hawkins Field. The host Hawks (5-3) won the first game 14-2 before the Knights (3-5) earned the split with a 15-2 victory in the finale.

St. Andrews’ senior right-hander starter B.J. Horne (Hamlet, N.C.) picked up his second win of the early season with a complete-game performance in the nightcap. Horne (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one in his first complete-game of the season.

The Knights supplied Horne with plenty of run support scoring 15 runs in five innings on 14 hits and four walks. SAPC jumped out to a 7-0 lead with three runs in the first and four more in the second. Junior outfielder Ivan Rodriguez (New York, N.Y.) set the tone for the second game by leading off the game with a double to left field. St. Andrews four-run second was highlighted by an RBI-single by senior second baseman Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, N.C.) followed by a two-run double by Norris.

Chowan cut the deficit to 7-2 with two runs in the bottom of the third but the Knights answered right back with a six spot in the top of the fourth and two more runs in the fifth. Rodriguez once again sparked St. Andrews with a leadoff single as the Knights sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth. Sophomore catcher Vince Giunta (Sewell, N.J.), sophomore third baseman Charles Weber (Concord, N.C.), and junior outfielder J.T. Maguire (Jarrettsville, Md.) all supplied two-run base hits during the surge. Senior infielders Sam Williams (Rockingham, N.C.) and Tyler Wolfe (Southern Pines, N.C.) concluded the scoring with RBI-singles in the fifth.

Wolfe led the Knights with three hits in the finale while Norris crossed home plate three times in the shortened five-inning game.

In Tuesday’s first game, sophomore Alex Ridout (Wake Forest, N.C.) tossed three solid innings for St. Andrews in his first collegiate start but Chowan broke open a close 1-0 contest with three runs in the fourth and eight runs in the fifth.

The Knights collected nine hits on the Hawks starter but were unable to break through until Norris ripped his home run in the sixth. Norris’ two-run bomb to left field was his first homer of the season.

Chowan produced 15 runs on 14 hits, eight walks, and three SAPC errors.

Norris finished the day with a .750 batting average, a 1.750 slugging percentage, and a .857 on-base percentage while driving in a team-high four runs. Rodriguez led the Knights with four hits in the twin bill while a quartet of Knights batters tallied three hits apiece including Norris, Wolfe, Weber, and Maguire.

The St. Andrews Presbyterian College baseball team has moved its three-game Conference Carolinas series against Erskine College scheduled for Friday & Saturday, February 15-16 to Due West, South Carolina in order to complete renovations to Clark Field. The Knights will be the home team (bat in the home half of each inning) for Friday’s series-opener at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday’s doubleheader starting at Noon even though they will be playing at the Flying Fleets Grier Field.