2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball wins first series of the year
Staff Reports
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: Sports
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Friday
Winston Pearson went 2-for-5 and drove in the game winning run in the top of the ninth inning to lead Jacksonville State to a 4-1 win over Middle Tennessee State (6-4) on Friday.
JSU improves to 5-7 on the season after scoring three runs in the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
Bret Pettus started the ninth inning rally with a one-out walk and Cory Tucker then reached on a throwing error as Pettus moved to third. Pearson then singled to left field to score Pettus as the Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead.
Jake Ball then reached on a walk and Austin Stein had a two-RBI single to center field to score Pearson and Tucker as the Gamecocks built a 4-1 advantage. Stein finished with a pair of hits and two RBI as JSU finished with eight hits on the day.
"For two seniors to set up and get some big hits from Winston and Austin, it was a big shot in the arm against a really good team," said head coach Jim Case. "We just kept battling and battling and made some really good defensive plays to get the win. There were a lot of good things that happened in the game."
Middle Tennessee jumped to the quick lead after Jeremy Taylor had a RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning, but JSU answered and tied the game in the second.
Richard Turner led off with a single through the left side and Brian Piazza followed with a single up the middle. Jason Horn then walked to load the bases before Bret Pettus hit into a double play that scored Turner as the Gamecocks tied the game at 1-1.
Donovan Hand (1-1) pitched three solid innings of relief, allowing just one hit and recording three strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Josh Forrest allowed just two hits in six innings as the starter for JSU, finishing with four strikeouts. Jimmy Kelly (0-1) suffered the loss for the Blue Raiders.
"I thought Josh and Donovan just threw outstanding," said Case. "In a close game, you have to rely on your pitching to give yourself a chance and I just felt like Josh and Donovan were both outstanding on the mound today."
Winston Pearson went 2-for-5 and drove in the game winning run in the top of the ninth inning to lead Jacksonville State to a 4-1 win over Middle Tennessee State (6-4) on Friday.
JSU improves to 5-7 on the season after scoring three runs in the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
Bret Pettus started the ninth inning rally with a one-out walk and Cory Tucker then reached on a throwing error as Pettus moved to third. Pearson then singled to left field to score Pettus as the Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead.
Jake Ball then reached on a walk and Austin Stein had a two-RBI single to center field to score Pearson and Tucker as the Gamecocks built a 4-1 advantage. Stein finished with a pair of hits and two RBI as JSU finished with eight hits on the day.
"For two seniors to set up and get some big hits from Winston and Austin, it was a big shot in the arm against a really good team," said head coach Jim Case. "We just kept battling and battling and made some really good defensive plays to get the win. There were a lot of good things that happened in the game."
Middle Tennessee jumped to the quick lead after Jeremy Taylor had a RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning, but JSU answered and tied the game in the second.
Richard Turner led off with a single through the left side and Brian Piazza followed with a single up the middle. Jason Horn then walked to load the bases before Bret Pettus hit into a double play that scored Turner as the Gamecocks tied the game at 1-1.
Donovan Hand (1-1) pitched three solid innings of relief, allowing just one hit and recording three strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Josh Forrest allowed just two hits in six innings as the starter for JSU, finishing with four strikeouts. Jimmy Kelly (0-1) suffered the loss for the Blue Raiders.
"I thought Josh and Donovan just threw outstanding," said Case. "In a close game, you have to rely on your pitching to give yourself a chance and I just felt like Josh and Donovan were both outstanding on the mound today."