The Oglethorpe baseball team completed a four-game sweep over Rust Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Field, defeating the visiting Bearcats 7-2 in Game 1 and 10-0 in a six-inning Game 2.
In Game 1, the Stormy Petrels tallied all seven runs in the second inning of play. Shortstop TJ Schmutz singled home the first run and he was followed by third baseman Justin Dempsey, who did the same, singling Schmutz home. Center fielder Vernon Trice doubled into the left-center gap to make it 3-0, then second baseman Will Hanna followed with a two-run single to make it 5-0. Designated hitter Patrick Kulick doubled off the right-field fence, scoring Hanna, and right fielder Joey McAlpin rounded out the inning by singling home Kulick.
The Petrels cruised from there to the victory, allowing just two single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Brandon Fish picked up the first victory of his career, allowing an unearned run on a hit and a walk over two innings of work. He struck out two in the process. Spencer Transue started the game and threw three innings allowing two hits and striking out four.
McAlpin went 2-for-4 for the Petrels in Game 1 with an RBI, while left fielder Casey Innis went 2-for-4 with two doubles and Dempsey went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
In Game 2, the Petrels scored a run in the second on an infield single from center fielder Andre Turnquest. They tacked on three more in the fourth, when catcher Morgan Blake singled to right field for his first collegiate RBI and third baseman Austin Ferlita hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Blake. They scored four more in the fifth, including one on a Billy Mayberry RBI walk and another on a Turnquest sacrifice fly. The Petrels closed out the game with two runs in the sixth, activating the 10-run rule.
Sam Traxler picked up his third win of the season in relief delivering a perfect inning of work with two strikeouts.
Blake had an excellent game at the plate for the Petrels, going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
The victories improve the Petrels to 14-17 on the season. They'll now get set to travel to Conway, Ark., to continue SAA play. They'll take on Hendrix in a three-game series this weekend with a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. Action on both days will start at 1 p.m. Eastern.