Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UNCP Athletics

scoreboard

Mound Visit 2019
12
UNC Pembroke UNCP 15-16
13
Winner USC Aiken USCA 18-13
UNC Pembroke UNCP
15-16
12
Final
13
USC Aiken USCA
18-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UNC Pembroke UNCP 0 0 2 3 2 2 0 0 3 12 9 1
USC Aiken USCA 0 0 2 7 0 0 2 1 1 13 14 4

W: Austin Sandifer (3-0) L: Winstead, Brandon (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Todd Anderson, Associate AD/Communications & Strategic Initiatives

Baseball Rallies Late, But Falls To USC Aiken On Walk-Off Single

AIKEN, S.C. – The UNC Pembroke baseball team utilized a trio of errors by USC Aiken to rally for three runs in the top of the ninth, but the Pacers got a walk-off single from Jackson Hannon with two outs in the bottom of the frame to captured the series opener with the Braves, 13-12, on Friday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
 
It was the fifth loss in the last six outings for the Braves (15-16, 5-11 PBC) who fell to 5-10 away from Sammy Cox Field with the result as well. The triumph marked just the second win in the last six contests for the Pacers (18-13, 10-6) who improved to 11-4 at home in 2019.
 
Friday's marathon contest, which featured 23 combined hits and saw 10 different pitchers, lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes.

 
GAME SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE USC Aiken 13, UNC Pembroke 12
PITCHERS WP: Sandifer (3-0)  LP: Brandon Winstead (1-4)  Save: None
RECORDS UNC Pembroke 15-16 (5-11 PBC): USC Aiken 18-13 (10-6 PBC)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 3 Jarratt Mobley (error) and Zach Ghelfi (walk) both reached to start the third, and both players moved into scoring position via a wild pitch moments later. Luke Jackson's fielder's choice RBI plated Mobley from third, and Ghelfi came scrambling home on a wild pitch in the midst of the next at-bat.
BOT 3 UNCP starter Nile Ball sat down the first two Pacers he faced, but the next three batters for the home team all reached base safely. Aiken put its first run on the board via a successful double steal attempt, and Trey Polewski knotted the score back up on a RBI single to left field.
TOP 4 River Ryan (walk) and Connor Grainger (single) both climbed aboard to start the fourth, and Jarratt Mobley gave the lead back to UNCP with the next at-bat via a RBI double down the left field line. Luke Jackson's double two at-bats later pushed the visitor lead out to three runs, 5-2.
BOT 4 The Pacers sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth, and had tacked up seven runs before the Braves were able to record an out. Luke Leisenring's RBI groundout stretched USC Aiken's advantage out to 9-5, but signaled the first of three-straight outs by the hosts as well.
TOP 5 Elijah Helton (hit by pitch) and River Ryan (single) both reached base to lead off the fifth for the Black & Gold, and UNCP chipped away at its deficit with consecutive RBI groundouts from Connor Grainger and Jarratt Mobley.
TOP 6 The Braves put runners at the corners with their first two at-bats of the inning, and eventually tied the score back up thanks to RBI at-bats from Elijah Helton (single) and River Ryan (groundout).
BOT 7 Trey Polewski drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame, and Blake Bottomley hit a one-out double to put a pair of runners into scoring position for the Pacers and set the table for a push bunt single from Sean McQuillan that plated Polewski with the go-ahead run. A costly error by the UNCP defense allowed the hosts to push their lead out to two runs. 
BOT 8 Luke Leisenring drew a full-count walk to start the frame, and USC Aiken manufacture an insurance run to push its lead out to 12-9. Blake Bottomley's two-out RBI single capped off the scoring opportunity.
TOP 9 River Ryan reached on an error to lead off the ninth, and Connor Grainger followed with a RBI double to get the dugout on its feet. Grainger eventually scored off of a costly throwing error by the Pacers to pull the visitors to within a run, and Luke Jackson's RBI single moments later plated Zach Ghelfi with the tying run.
BOT 9 Chandler Rogers climbed aboard via a one-out single in the bottom of the frame, and then used a stolen base to put himself into scoring position. UNCP reliever Brandon Winstead struck out Conner Durden to put the second out on the board, but Jackson Hannon hammered a two-strike offering into centerfield to plate the game-winning run.

UNCP LEADERS USCA LEADERS
Luke Jackson  2-5, 2B, 4 RBI
Connor Grainger  2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Trevor Clemons  2-6, 2B, R
River Ryan  1-4, BB, 3 R		 Bottomley  3-4, 2 2B, RBI
Durden  2-4, 2B, 2 BB
Mills  2-5, BB, 2B, 2 R
McQuillan  2-4, 2 R
 
UP NEXT
The Braves will continue their three-game series against USC Aiken on Saturday at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED
Follow UNCP Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UNCP_BSB and "Like" Brave Ball on Facebook.
 
JOIN THE BRAVES CLUB
Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu.
Print Friendly Version