Bishops Battle to Extend Series
BURLINGTON, N.C. - Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan forced an "if" game Saturday afternoon at the USA South Conference baseball Tournament with a 16-6 opening game win over Shenandoah.
With the win by the Bishops (23-16), the two teams will now play for the title beginning at 2:30.
Should the Hornets (31-7) win, it would be the team's first-ever USA South Conference baseball title and a school-record 32nd victory.
The contest will be the ultimate rubber match - SU and NCWC split two games during the regular season and each has a win over the other in the past three days.
Leading 9-6, the Bishops broke open the opening contest with a six-run eighth. NCWC sent 11 men to the plate in the frame, scoring the six runs on five hits, two walks and one Hornets error.
Luke Williford's two-run single to center was the big hit while Justin Tuck and Daniel Moore each drove in one run.
Shenandoah, which registered double-digit hits for the 25th time this season, had home runs by Scott Van Dusseldorp in the second and Jason Eberz in the sixth.
Jake Yocum (4-1) took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits and six walks in 2.2 innings.
Justin Diener (2-3) allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk, but came out with the victory as his offense provided him with the 16 runs on 16 hits.
