SSAC News
Thu, Apr 26, 2007 - [Baseball]
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—In a game where runs were at a premium, Southern Poly was able to score just enough runs against Lee to continue play in the winner’s bracket of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. Third seeded SPSU (42-15) scored four runs, only one earned, as they defeated second seed Lee University (43-11) 4-1 in the second round of the SSAC tournament.
The Flames broke on top in the third inning as Hunter Hydas singled and moved to third when right fielder Damion Overstreet misplayed his single. Hydas then scored on Andrew Shaver’s ground out.
The Runnin’ Hornets came back to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as David Griffin opened the inning by getting on base via the error. Joe Billick then came to bat and doubled to the left centerfield fence moving Griffith to third.
Ryan Pearson hit a sacrifice to center field to even the score at two. Courtesy runner, Rick McRae, who had moved up to third on the sacrifice fly, then came across the plate on Josh Grooms hit that went just off third baseman Edgar Mercado’s glove. The final run came on an error by Mercado to make the score 4-1.
Lee would not go without a fight, as they strung together four hits in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs to cut the lead to one at 4-3. Andrew Shaver drove in one of the runs with a ground out, and Lance Zawadski came off the bench to knock in Jeremy Hutslar with a pinch hit single.
In the top of the ninth, Scott Morris entered the game after a lead off walk to Kyle Sullivan. With a 0-1 count on Brian Landru, Sullivan was thrown out trying to steal. Morris then preceded to strikeout the two remaining batters to preserve the victory.
Matt Koppin (7-0) picks up the win with eight innings of work, striking out four and allowing three runs. Morris picked up his seventh save of the season. Gabe Setan (6-4) pitched well in defeat, allowing only four hits and four runs, but only one of them was earned. He had five strikeouts in the loss.
SPSU will move on to play the winner of the Faulkner/AUM game tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The loss for Lee breaks a 14-game winning streak and will drop them into the loser’s bracket where they will face Southern Wesleyan University tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.
The Flames broke on top in the third inning as Hunter Hydas singled and moved to third when right fielder Damion Overstreet misplayed his single. Hydas then scored on Andrew Shaver’s ground out.
The Runnin’ Hornets came back to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as David Griffin opened the inning by getting on base via the error. Joe Billick then came to bat and doubled to the left centerfield fence moving Griffith to third.
Ryan Pearson hit a sacrifice to center field to even the score at two. Courtesy runner, Rick McRae, who had moved up to third on the sacrifice fly, then came across the plate on Josh Grooms hit that went just off third baseman Edgar Mercado’s glove. The final run came on an error by Mercado to make the score 4-1.
Lee would not go without a fight, as they strung together four hits in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs to cut the lead to one at 4-3. Andrew Shaver drove in one of the runs with a ground out, and Lance Zawadski came off the bench to knock in Jeremy Hutslar with a pinch hit single.
In the top of the ninth, Scott Morris entered the game after a lead off walk to Kyle Sullivan. With a 0-1 count on Brian Landru, Sullivan was thrown out trying to steal. Morris then preceded to strikeout the two remaining batters to preserve the victory.
Matt Koppin (7-0) picks up the win with eight innings of work, striking out four and allowing three runs. Morris picked up his seventh save of the season. Gabe Setan (6-4) pitched well in defeat, allowing only four hits and four runs, but only one of them was earned. He had five strikeouts in the loss.
SPSU will move on to play the winner of the Faulkner/AUM game tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The loss for Lee breaks a 14-game winning streak and will drop them into the loser’s bracket where they will face Southern Wesleyan University tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.
