Presbyterian College placed both men’s and basketball players on All-Big South teams.
Softball won a nail-biter over Wofford, and baseball lost one to Western Michigan. Acrobatics and tumbling performed expertly versus King in Bristol, Tenn.
Elton Pollock’s Blue Hose took a lead after trailing by three runs early, but Western Michigan (7-5) scored two runs in the eighth inning to upend Presbyterian (7-6), 5-4, on Tuesday.
Shortstop Michael Maloney led the Broncos with three hits, one of which was a double, in five at-bats. Left fielder Dylan Nevar led off the eighth with a single, advanced to third on C.J. Richmond’s double and tied the score on Greg Budig’s walk with one out. Richmond scored what turned out to be the game-winner on Brendan Harrity’s groundout.
The Blue Hose went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Left fielder Noah Lebron gave PC a short-lived lead with a two-run homer in the sixth. Lebron’s blast was one of only two Blue Hose hits.
The third Western Michigan pitcher, Joe Shapiro (1-0), earned the decision, allowing only two walks in two innings. Hayden Berg got the save by striking out the side in the ninth.
The sixth of seven PC hurlers, Jeffrey Hays (0-2), took the loss. Starter Sean Hollister allowed just a hit in two innings. Luke Gibson, Jeremiah Hampton, Caden Barnett, Robbie Boykin, Hays and Kyle Mueller followed him to the hill.
Take a look at the box here.
Freshman Kasey Wolfe, a Spartanburg product, lashed a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Blue Hose past Wofford, 1-0, on Tuesday night.
The PC news release termed the Terriers “a newfound rival,” which, on second thought, makes odd sense since Wofford just began its softball program this year.
Wolfe’s single sent Kelby Goodrum home for her team-best 11th RBI.
Fifth-year pitcher Jenna Greene pitched her 59th complete game, allowing four its and striking out nine. It was her 59th complete game, 52nd win and 21st shutout.
Combined, the teams left two on base in four different innings.
Goodrum reached first in the 8th thanks to an infield mishap from the Terriers, one of four Wofford (9-6) errors. Kaitlyn Tucker sacrificed her to second, and Maddi Wood (of Clinton) flied to left and reached base when Wofford’s Morgan Farthing dropped the ball, setting up Wolfe’s game-winner.
Right fielder Havalynn Abernathy led the Terriers with two hits in four at-bats. PC had only three hits, one each by Goodrum, Wood and Wolfe.
Marist, Tarleton State and Jacksonville join Presbyterian (7-12) in a five-game series in Jacksonville, Fla., opening against Marist in a Friday twinbill that begins at 9 a.m. The Red Foxes have won their last 11 games.
Presbyterian (2-1) posted season-high scores in all six events as the Blue Hose rallied to a program all-time best score in the acrobatic-and-tumbling team event to defeat the King Tornado (2-5), 262.210-253.730, on the road.
Head coach Kara Christian stated, “I am extremely proud of this team and their heart, determination and fight until the very end. We knew every point was going to count, so we focused really hard on our team event and cleaning up our skills this week going into this meet. I always say “Do your job,” and today they came in and focused on our team and did their job and the success came with it.”
Three men’s basketball players earned acclaim from the Big South Conference on the All-Big South team.
Junior guard Marquis Barnett was named second team All-Big South. Freshman guard Kory Mincy was a Big South All-Freshman pick. Senior guard Trevon Reddish-Rhone earned Big South All-Academic mention.
Bryanna Brady and Tilda Sjokvist made the all-conference second team. Sjokvist also made the academic list.
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