LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Trevecca Nazarene University baseball team (15-21, 11-13 GSC) battled against the University of West Alabama (19-19, 12-12 GSC), at Tartt Field on Saturday afternoon.
TNU beat UWA 2-1 in the opener and then the Tigers finished the day with a 3-2 win in game three to avoid the sweep.
SERIES HISTORY/NOTES
Trevecca commands a 2-1 all-time series lead with the series win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE – TNU 2, UWA 1
In what turned into a pitcher's duel from the start, the game was decided in the sixth inning alone. The first three innings featured a combined three hits between both sides who collectively reached base nine times via a hit.
The fourth inning brought six quick outs before the fifth saw both teams leave a pair of runners on base. In the sixth, UWA led the inning off with a solo home run to left field, for just its third hit of the day. After Logan Harrel came on to relieve Trojan starter
Spencer Wilkins, the Trojan bats went to work.
Brett Dingess drew a walk to lead off the frame before
Joey Parliment moved him into scoring position with a single to right. With one out,
Brady Maciak sent another ball to right to load the bases.
Luke Dymond grounded out but effectively advanced all runners for Trevecca's first run of the afternoon. After
Noah Boughton walked,
Carter Warner reached via base on balls to bring in what would become the game winning run.
The final three innings belonged to the Trojan bullpen as
Aaron McCoy came on to close up shop in the ninth. He struck out one to help the Trojan win 2-1 and claim the series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Brett Dingess went 1-3 with a run scored and a walk.
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Joey Parliment was 1-4 with a run scored.
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Luke Dymond went 1-4 with an RBI.
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Logan Harrell (2-2) picked up the win pitching in relief. He tossed 3.0 innings of shutout baseball in which he allowed just one hit and struck out five.
GAME TWO – UWA 3, TNU 2
The Tigers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in game two. A leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt put the first run of the game just 90 feet from home. After a walk and stolen base put runners on second and third, an RBI single made it 2-0, UWA. The Trojans found their first baserunner in the third inning but left three on as it was 3-0 Tigers through three complete.
With two gone in the fourth,
Frankie Carreras broke up the no-hitter with a single to center field, but the Trojans were quickly retired in both the fifth and sixth innings, trailing 3-0.
The Trevecca rally came up just short in the seventh. Carreras doubled to lead off the inning before
Noah Boughton singled him over to third.
Carter Warner's single to center scored one before consecutive outs brought up
Brett Dingess. Dingess singled to left to make it 3-2 before Parliment flew out to right to end the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Frankie Carreras went 2-3 with a double and a run scored.
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Brett Dingess was 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.
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Carter Warner went 1-3 with an RBI.
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Jonah Smithson (3-6) started and took the loss. He tossed 2.2 allowing two earned runs and four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The Trojans play just one midweek game next week as they travel to Marion, Illinois for a neutral site game against Missouri S&T (16-11, 9-7 GLVC) on Wednesday, April 9.
First pitch with the Miners is set for 3:00 p.m. at Mtn. Dew Park. Two two schools have never played before in baseball.
