In the immortal commercial words of Mike Krzyzewski, “Who needs championships when you can look at birds?”

I’m starting to add words to the CBS March Madness theme.

Everyone talks about the Big Dance. And the Sweet Sixteen. And the Elite Eight. And the Final Four.

Why no love for the Thrifty Thirty-Two? That’s where the Yales and Oaklands usually expire.

Presbyterian College won its first two Big South baseball games at Gardner-Webb. The Blue Hose go for a sweep on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Friday was no contest at John Henry Moss Stadium as Presbyterian (13-14, 4-1 Big South) pounded the Bulldogs, 7-1.

It required no pounding at the start as the Hose broke on top first because four consecutive batters walked and then because Ryan Becker was hit by a pitch. Two more came on on a GWU error.

In the fourth, Joel Dragoo singled up the middle, advanced to second on Rhogue Wallace’s walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wallace stole second base, and both scored on Noah Lebron’s single to right.The Blue Hose put one more on the board in the top of the eighth inning when Brody Fahr double in Eli Lazio.

Gardner-Webb (8-17, 1-7) scored its only run in the bottom of the eighth.

Charlie McDaniel (4-0) was bruised but unbattered. He gave up six hits but no runs, walking only one and striking out six. Christ Charalambous and Jeffrey Hays each worked an inning of relief.

The Bulldogs collected nine hits, eight singles, but only center fielder Wade Kelly had two. Tommy Tavarez laced a double.

Garrett Hodges, who took the loss, lasted only 2/3 of an inning.

Take a look at the box here.

Left fielder Jay Wetherington collected three singles in five at-bats, leading Presbyterian to a 6-2 Big South baseball victory over Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Thursday.

Daniel Eagan (1-0), a junior from Fuquay-Varina, N.C., worked five shutout innings on the hill, allowing only a hit and two walks while striking out 11. Robbie Boykin worked the final four innings and qualified for a save.

First baseman Eli Lazio drove in two runs, as did catcher Jackson Hugus. The Blue Hose had only six singles, Wetherington’s three and Fahr, Hugus and Lazio with one apiece.

Presbyterian (12-14, 3-1 BSC) scored single runs in the first and third innings, then pushed four across in the fifth.

DH Nick Capuzzi had two hits for Gardner-Webb (8-16, 1-6). Peter Capobianco and Matt Ilgenfritz lashed doubles.

Bryan Pazos (0-1) departed after 2-2/3 innings, allowing three hits and four walks to go with three runs (two earned). Josh Gentile, C.J. Czerwinski and Creighton Hansen followed Pazos to the mound. Hansen closed with four shutout innings.

Take a look at the box here.

Presbyterian (9-9) defeated Chattanooga (8-9) in women’s tennis for the first time as a member of Division I at home on Friday. The Blue Hose won two doubles and four singles matches to mute the Mocs, 7-1.

Presbyterian’s McKenzie Davis and Mathilde Delaney posted PC’s first win of the match with a 6-3 victory. The doubles tandem of Valentina De Sousa and Claire Giddings collected a 6-4 win to clinch the doubles point.

Presbyterian tallied four singles wins to claim the overall victory. At No. 6 singles, Giddings cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win. Davis collected her 11^th win of the season with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 1. Dennett clinched the victory for PC with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5. Piedra closed out the scoring with her ninth win of the season with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory at No. 3.  

In Farmville, Va., Longwood easily won the opener of its Big South softball series against the Blue Hose, outhitting them 10-5 and beating them, 10-1.

Blue Hose enemy No. 1 was Longwood right fielder Kayley DeVivi, who singled, doubled and homered in as many at-bats, driving in five runs. Emily Vinson also homered for Longwood (10-19). Korynna Anderson also doubled. Lauren Fox tripled.

Presbyterian’s hits were all singles, all one apiece, by Kelby Goodrum, Kaitlyn Tucker, Emma Yates, Jillian Hewes and Gracie DeCuir.

Maggie Chapin (10-9), who has apparently been the winning pitcher in every Longwood triumph, solved the Blue Hose, whose run was unearned, though her walks (5) matched her hits allowed.

Jenna Greene (6-8) labored for 3-1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and earned runs. She walked four and struck out the same. Kasey Wolfe finished up in the circle for PC (11-22, 2-2).

David Mamalat recorded a straight-sets win but the Presbyterian men (6-9) lost to Charlotte (12-6), 6-1, on the road Friday.  

The 49ers posted wins at Nos. 4, 6, 3, 5 and 1 singles. Then, Mamalat tallied his ninth win of the season with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 2.

Presbyterian is back in action against No. 51 Rice at Charlotte’s Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Ray Harrison, who played two seasons at PC (then known as Rayshon), averaged 13.5 points a game at Grand Canyon, the Phoenix, Ariz., school that won its first-round NCAA Tournament game over Saint Mary’s before bowing to Alabama.

The Antelopes are coached by Bryce Drew, whose brother Scott is head coach at Baylor.

Harrison is a Greenville product.

Will work for food, but contributions would be better. Besides, I had a steak before Jim McLaurin’s funeral. I’d forgotten how good they are.

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