 "Photo: uwgsports.com")
The visiting Brewton-Parker College Barons swept the University of West Georgia Wolves at Cole Field in last Tuesday’s doubleheader.
In the first game, Wolves’ pitcher Jacob Fox started on the mound and threw for all seven innings. Fox surrendered only seven hits total and struck out seven batters while walking five. Unfortunately, his shaky control in the second inning jumpstarted the Barons’ offense.
After a throwing error committed by Wolves’ shortstop Justin Smith that allowed Barons’ right fielder Brian Hobbs to reach first base, two back-to-back wild pitches by Fox moved him around to third base. The next batter, catcher Gary Stauff, then hit an RBI-single down the left side, scoring Hobbs and giving the Barons the first run of the game, 1-0.
The Barons scored again in the top of the third inning. Centerfielder Bobby Kuzdale knocked a single to left field and then stole second base. Designated hitter Jacob Evors hit an RBI-double, scoring Kuzdale and doubling the Barons’ lead 2-0.
The Wolves’ bats rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning when left fielder Bradford Mattox stepped up to the plate. Mattox batted a single down the right side. A fielding error by Barons’ third baseman Errick Fox put the next batter, right fielder Brandon Mainor, on first base and moved Mattox over to second base. A groundout by second baseman Nick Sperounis shifted everyone over a base. First baseman Michael Hornsby then belted a 2-RBI double down the left field line, tying the game 2-2.
The Barons acquired the go-ahead run off of another wild pitch by Fox in the top of the seventh inning. The Wolves’ bats nearly rallied again in response in the bottom of that inning when Mattox and Mainor were again on third and second base. This time, however, Hornsby struck out on the 1-2 pitch, sealing the Barons’ victory 3-2.
Barons’ starting pitcher Delgis Soto earned the win while Jacob Fox acquired the loss.
In the evening’s game, the Barons’ starting pitcher Jacob Gore all but silenced the Wolves’ offense, limiting them to just three hits and one unearned run while striking out five batters and walking none. The Wolves’ lone run came in the bottom of the second inning when left fielder Mattox knocked a single into left field. Second baseman Sperounis then reached first base and later second base on a throwing error by the Barons’ third baseman, Fox, which brought Mattox home for the score.
Pitching, for the Wolves, was a nightmare. Starter Anthony Winborne lasted three innings and surrendered two runs-one off of a double play in the second inning when Fox scored from third and another in the fourth inning when left fielder Josh Barrs hit an RBI-single- and walked four batters.
The bullpen had an even rougher night. Relief pitchers Marc Nellist and Alex Wilson gave up a total of five runs all in their brief stint in the top of the fifth inning. Fox batted an RBI-single which was followed by a grand slam from the catcher, Gary Stauff. Unable to answer back, the Wolves lost the second game, 7-1.
Naturally, Gore acquired the win, while Winborne earned the loss. The Barons won all four season games against the Wolves.
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