NCMC Getting Solid Pitching In SC

The North Central Missouri College baseball team has evened its record on the season after a 3-1 start to its South Carolina trip behind some stellar pitching performances. The Pirates split on Monday, falling 1-0 to Carl Sandburg, but bounced back with an 8-3 win over Henry Ford. On Tuesday, the Pirates swept Delaware Tech, winning game one 2-1 and game two 4-0 to bring their overall season record to 5-5.
Monday
In game one, the Pirates struggled at the plate, possibly the result of a 17-day stretch without a game due to some rough weather. The only run of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when Carl Sandburg plated what proved to be the game winner. NCMC tallied five hits, but couldn’t string enough together to get on the board.
One thing that wasn’t ailing in the game for NCMC was the pitching. Anthony Caenepeel went two innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out three. Trenton Troyer, who was the losing pitcher of record, threw four innings, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks while striking out two.
NCMC bounced back well in their second game on Monday, defeating Henry Ford. The Pirates were down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the second, but pushed runs across the plate in each of the next four innings to take the lead. The Pirates’ defense shut down Henry Ford over the final five innings en route to the five-run victory.
JJ Wesley led the offense, going one-for three with three RBIs and a stolen base. AJ Salinas, Tyler White and Michael Babbitt all drove in runs as well and James Brownsberger, Salinas and White all scored two runs each.
On the mound, Cody Lee threw six-and-one-third innings, picking up the win. Lee allowed just one earned run on eight hits and struck out five in the win. Aspen Taylor was perfect, recording the final two outs of the seventh inning with one strikeout.
Tuesday
The momentum of the win in the finale on Monday carried over to Tuesday as the Pirates won a close one over Delaware Tech in game one. The Pirates picked up one in the third inning and another in the sixth and that was enough as Caleb Bounds spun a gem. Bounds threw seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits. He walked none and struck out three in a dominating effort.
Jason Luster and Cezan Rafaela each drove in a run to power NCMC’s offense. White and Jason Luster each scored a run.
Game two featured another impressive outing for an NCMC starter. This time it was Luster, who shut out Delaware Tech, throwing seven scoreless innings and allowing six hits and a walk. Luster fanned five in the win.
At the plate, NCMC started fast, scoring three runs in the first two innings combined. The Pirates tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on their way to the win.
At the plate, Brownsberger went two-for-three with a double, stolen base and two RBIs.Luster and Babbitt each had one RBI.
NCMC is looking to keep the momentum going today with a match-up against John Wood Community College. The Pirates wrap up their South Carolina swing Thursday, taking on Danville Community College.