Bishops Claim Title over Hornets
BURLINGTON, N.C. - Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan ended Shenandoah University's bid for its first USA South Conference baseball title with a 6-2 win Sunday afternoon in the championship game.
Needing two wins heading into the day, the Bishops (24-16) forced a second game by winning 16-6 in the opener and then clinched the league's automatic bid behind a seven-hitter from Ben Moore (7-1).
Moore opened the tournament on Thursday evening by throwing 7.0 innings in a victory over Greensboro before throwing the complete game Sunday.
Moore allowed one run in the second and another in the sixth but settled down to allow just two more runners into scoring position to claim tournament MVP honors.
Shenandoah (31-8) brought the tying run to the plate with three singles in the ninth, but Moore induced Jon Holcomb into a tournament-ending groundball to second base.
Moore was one of nine players in the game to earn All-Tournament honors. Teammates Zollie Woodlief, Justin Rahm, Luke Williford and Justin Batts joined Moore while Greg Van Sickler, Jason Eberz, Kevin Brashears and Holcomb were named from SU.
Woodlief gave his club the lead for good with a two-run HR to center as part of a three-run sixth. Zach Alexander followed that blast with one of his own, chasing Hornets starter Brian Goddard (3-1) in the process.
Goddard struck out seven, but allowed five runs on five hits and three walks. Three of the hits were home runs.
Moore struck out three and benefitted from two double plays turned.
