Baseball
CRUSADERS ELIMINATED AFTER BACK TO BACK LOSSES
April 28, 2012
Wilson, N.C.—North Greenville came out on the wrong end of a pitchers duel on Saturday afternoon as the #1 ranked Mount Olive Trojans handed the Crusaders their first loss of the Conference Carolinas tournament with a 4-0 triumph.
The Crusaders were held scoreless for only the 3rd time this season while mustering just 2 hit on Mount Olive starter Jake Moser. For North Greenville, Ryan Woodring turned in one of the best performances of his career Saturday allowing just 1 earned run to the #1 Ranked Trojans.
A leadoff walk in the 3rd inning led to Mount Olive’s only earned run of the
game. The Trojans extended their lead in the top of the 9th inning after an NGU error extended the inning. MOC
would go on to score 3 runs (0 Earned) on 3 hits and an NGU error.
For the first time in the tournament, the Crusaders
offense failed to score. Derek Fulmer collected the only 2 hits for the
Crusaders. Allen Staton and Adam Taylor also reached base for NGU on free
passes. North Greenville’s best chance to plate a run came in the 2nd inning with runners on the corners. The Crusaders
looked to spark a rally in the home half of the 9th, but a groundout to second ended the game with
runners on 1st and 2nd.
In game 2, the Crusaders faced a familiar Erskine
squad of which NGU took 2 games of a 3 game set in early march. Erskine would
end NGU’s tournament run with a 3-1 win in the final game of round 3.
The Fleet struck first in the win or go home
contest. An RBI double from Erskine’s Drew Willingham gave the fleet a 1-0 lead
with 1 out in the bottom half of the first inning. The Fleet would load the
bases but failed to advance the runners, stranding 3 to end the inning.
In the 2nd inning, Anthony Foulk’s RBI
groundout scored David Frazier to even the tally at 1. The Crusaders pounded
out just 3 hits against Erskine and 5 all together on Saturday and just 1 run.
The previous 2 days, the Crusaders platted 18 runs on 22 hits.
Erskine regained the advantage in the 3rd
inning, scoring a single run on a pair of hits. The Fleet added an insurance
run in the 8th inning.
Andrew Lawrence, Taylor Hollifield, and Adam Taylor
reached base safely with a hit a piece against Erskine while Anthony Foulk
picked the only RBI for the Crusaders. David Frazier scored the only run of the
day for NGU.
The Crusaders finished the tournament 2-2 after
beating Belmont Abbey and King College in games 1 and 2. North Greenville will
wrap up the 2012 season on Tuesday at Fluor Field when they take on the Saints
of Limestone College. First pitch between the Crusaders and Saints is scheduled
for 7pm.
