March 22, 2008

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Senior Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, N.C.) drilled a two-run double off the base of the right-center field fence to rally the St. Andrews Presbyterian College baseball team past Conference Carolinas rival Pfeiffer University, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Clark Field.

The Knights, who improved a 11-21 overall and 5-13 league records, trailed by one run heading into the ninth inning before Eastwood’s game-winning, walk-off heroics. The Falcons, who maintain a 17-18 overall and 6-9 conference ledgers, were looking for the three-game series sweep after winning a doubleheader on Friday but were denied.

Pfeiffer’s sophomore closer Andrew Oliver, who had a save and a win in yesterday’s twin bill, looked to close the door on St. Andrews again but the rightie put the potential game-tying and game-winning runs on base with a pair of walks to freshman pinch hitter R.J. Blasi (Hubert, N.C.) and sophomore Jeremy Fisher (Cantonsville, Md.). Eastwood stepped foot into the batters box with two outs and the game on the line and ripped his second double of the game to the right-center fence plating both Blasi and Fisher to end the game.

Senior starter T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, Pa.) continues his streak of impressive performances for the Knights earning the complete-game victory. Chrusch (3-3) went the distance hurling 155-pitches for his third win of the season. Chrusch allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out eight. Chrusch is 3-0 with one save, 30 strikeouts, and a 1.64 ERA in his last five appearances for St. Andrews (all conference games).

Pfeiffer scored two runs on three hits in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Freshman Kyle McGarrity (Stanfield, N.C.) drove in the Falcons second run with an infield single that just stayed fair down the third base line. Pfeiffer added an unearned in the fourth on an RBI-groundout by junior Jodie Groce (Graham, N.C.).

Junior Kyle Norris (Laurel Hill, N.C.) crushed a monstrous home run in the bottom of the fourth to pull the Knights within one run. Norris’ two-run blast over the right field fence was his team-high third home run of the season. Eastwood led off with a double to right field.

St. Andrews tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth. Senior Eric Stone (Laurinburg, N.C.) led off with a single and after advancing to third on a pair of groundouts, Stone scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

After three scoreless innings, Pfeiffer broke the deadlock with an unearned run in the top of the ninth. However, Eastwood and the Knights rallied back to salvage the series finale.

Sophomore Hunter Wyke (Concord, N.C.) led the visitors with three hits and two runs scored. Junior starter Ben Beard (Huntersville, N.C.) had six strikeouts in the no-decision for the Falcons. Oliver falls to 5-2 on the season.

St. Andrews visits local foe Methodist College (Fayetteville, N.C.) on Monday at 7:00 p.m. before returning home for a non-conference game against Lander University on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.