The UNC Pembroke baseball squad completed a three-game Peach
Belt Conference sweep of Georgia Southwestern on Monday with a 6-1
victory at Hurricane Field.
GSW (14-24, 6-12 PBC), on the losing end of four straight games,
has been swept in two of their last three Peach Belt Conference
series.
Pembroke wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Leadoff
hitter Kevin Dietrich homered to dead center field to start the
game.
In the second inning, Jason Coker dropped a fly ball between
three GSW fielders for a double to right. The next batter, Jordan
Pegram reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt after a throwing error
by Zack Stanton; Coker advanced to third. Joe Mangum singled to
right center to drive in Coker. After a walk to Tom Porricelli,
Josh Haley singled to right field to drive in a run. The next two
Braves batters popped out. The final run of the inning was brought
home when Seth Kivett was hit by pitch.
Southwestern scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of
the frame. Francisco Gomez led off the inning with a double down
the right field line. After Stanton grounded out to the shortstop,
Daniel Lynn grounded out to second and Gomez advanced to third on
the play. Jared Allen walked. Daniel Stokes followed with a single
up the middle to drive in Gomez.
The Braves (26-13, 8-10 PBC) added a pair of runs in the sixth
when Dietrich hit his second home run of the game; a two-run shot
to left center field.
UNCP starter Jonathan Rivera (4-1) threw 8.1 innings, allowing
one run on five hits. He struck out two and walked two. Rudy Brown
picked up the final two outs without surrendering a
hit.
RM Cozza (1-5) took the loss for the Hurricanes, giving up nine
hits and six runs - four earned - in eight innings, walking three
and striking out seven. Brandon Reeder pitched a scoreless ninth.
Dietrich finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead UNCP,
while Coker and Haley collected two hits apiece. GSW did not have a
batter with multiple hits. Stokes tallied the lone RBI.
Southwestern returns to action tomorrow (4/7) with a 5:00
p.m. home non-conference game against Valdosta State.
