Baseball Wins Tourney Opener
BURLINGTON, N.C. - Fourth-seeded Shenandoah University opened up the 2009 USA South Conference baseball Tournament with a 6-0 win over Greensboro College Thursday morning at Burlington Athletic Park.
Sophomore Greg Van Sickler (6-2) tossed a complete-game, four-hitter to give the Hornets (29-6) their first conference tournament win in three seasons.
Van Sickler struck out eight and only allowed three runners into scoring position to toss his first career shutout.
Michael Manfro (2-6) held SU without a hit for the first 2 1/3 innings, but was victimized by a couple of costly Pride (16-20) errors.
After Shenandoah scored its first run in the third when Jon Holcomb drew a walk, advanced to third on Kevin Brashears' bloop single to right and then came home when Brashears stole second, GC gave the Hornets three unearned runs in the fifth.
Cory Nelson started the rally with a leadoff single up the middle and after two outs were recorded, moved into scoring position when Holcomb laid down a bunt that the Pride couldn't handle at third base.
Brashears singled to left and when GC left-fielder Clint DeHaven fumbled the ball, Nelson was able to come home with the first unearned run of the frame.
Two pitches later, Greensboro attempted to pick Holcomb off at third as Brashears stole second; the throw went into left and both Holcomb and Brashears were able to score.
Two more runs on three hits in the seventh provided the final margin of victory.
Ryan Laboy provided GC with its best chance to score with a leadoff double in the ninth, but Van Sickler preserved his shutout with two groundouts and a flyout.
