CARROLLTON, Ga. - Three up, three down.The UWG baseball team secured its third straight series victory, sweeping Eastern Kentucky at Cole Field. The Wolves took game two 5-4 and game three 14-4 through seven innings.
A career-high 13 punchout performance by Lane Pearson and a clutch pinch hit by Luke Johnson led to the Wolves (7-3) securing a tight 5-4 win over EKU (0-11) in game one of today's doubleheader. Game two was highlighted by an eight-run second inning for UWG that proved to be a difference maker in the Wolves' run rule win.
Following the Wolves' first ever series sweep as a DI program, head coach
Jeff Smith stated, "It's great to have a three-game sweep. Our goal every weekend is to win the series. I'm excited for our program and way the guys are playing. This was a team win. We got to see a lot of different guys play this weekend.
Luke Johnson with that big pinch hit was great. I am really happy with how the guys are playing, but it's a long race, so we have to continue to be consistent."
GAME ONE
Coming off of a ASUN Pitcher of the Week Performance, senior righty Lane Pearson started on the mound for UWG. Through two appearances, Pearson posts a superb 0.69 ERA and an ASUN high 15 strikeouts. For the visitors, EKU pitched redshirt sophomore Bradley Gagen. Prior to joining EKU Gagen played at Walters State Community College, where he accounted for a 6.55 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 22 frames.
Unlike yesterday, it only took until the second inning for either team to get on the board. EKU started things off by jumping out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a home run over the right field wall.
In the third, the Wolves responded with a great placed RBI double deep into center right by Cooper Prince. Following this, Carter Dierdorf hit his fifth double of the season down the right field line, putting the Wolves up 2-1 to end the inning.
Despite giving up an early home run, Pearson looked like a man on a mission today. Through four innings on the mound, the ASUN strikeout leader tallied a season-high nine punchouts. Yes, you read that right. Pearson accounted for nine of the Wolves' opening 12 outs today, and he was not done yet.
During the sixth, EKU reclaimed a one-score advantage on an RBI double that rocketed past first base.
Pearson's day ended before the start of the seventh. The righty pitcher struck out 13 of the batters 24 batters he faced while giving up three runs off of two hits. He was replaced by senior left-handed pitcher Brendan Parks.
Following a scoreless seventh, EKU extended their lead to 4-2 on a passed ball. The Wolves quickly responded with a Blake Bradford solo home run. After that, pinch hitter Luke Johnson drove a pair of Wolves home on an RBI double, pushing UWG ahead 5-4 with one frame remaining.
Going into the ninth, Parks was relieved by righty junior Gavin Mask. Parks finished with three strikeouts while giving up one run and one hit. Mask was replaced by lefty graduate student Dosie Drakeford, still in the ninth.
Drakeford and the Wolves held on to secure the 5-4 win, officially taking their third straight series victory. This win gave Drakeford his second save of the season.
GAME TWO
Starting on the mound for UWG in game three was right-handed junior Sam Cole. Through two appearances, Cole has posted a 3.27 ERA while striking out eight batters in 11 frames. EKU started with sophomore righty Elijah Underhill. Prior to today, Underwood posted a 15.00 ERA after giving up 10 runs off of four hits in six frames.
Similarly in today's earlier game, EKU opened the series' finale jumping out to a 1-0 lead, this time in the top of the first.
During the second, Patrick McCullough tied the game up at one apiece after he tattooed an RBI double into left center. Still in the second, Cooper Prince mashed an RBI single through center, pushing the Wolves' lead to 2-1. Continuing the UWG scoring run, a wild pitch allowed Jacob Bowman to take home. Carter Dierdorf then crushed a two-run triple to put UWG up 5-1. Following that deep shot, Landon Weidner drove another UWG player home on an RBI to short. West Georgia finished the frame up 8-1 thanks to a two-run RBI single by Brady McDevitt to close out the UWG fun.
In the following inning, the EKU bats came alive. Before the Wolves knew it, the visitors dashed the UWG lead to 8-4.
During the fourth, Blake Bradford pushed the UWG advantage to 9-4 on an RBI double through the left side. Still in the fourth, McDevitt smashed a two-run homer to put the Wolves up 11-4.
Moving into the fifth, UWG added two more runs off of a Weidner double to deep center.
Today's game ended in the bottom of the seventh after Tyler Presnell pushed the Wolves to a 14-4 lead on an RBI single to center.
Cole pitched all seven innings for UWG. Through seven frames, Cole allowed four runs off of seven hits in addition to striking out six batters.
BY THE NUMBERS
Through the three game series, UWG dominated the hitting head-to-head, 32-18. Leading the way in this series with six hits was Prince.
The Wolves also led the strikeout batlle
23-14 with Pearson tallying 13 of those. This brings his total to 28 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Wolves return to Cole Field to host Samford University next Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.
