Right fielder Joey McAlpin, center fielder Vernon Trice, designated hitter Patrick Kulick and left fielder Andre Turnquest celebrated their Senior Day in style Sunday afternoon at Anderson Field, combining to go 8-for-15 with two home runs, a triple, two doubles, nine RBIs and six runs scored in a 12-8 Oglethorpe victory over Centre that ensured the Stormy Petrels a series sweep and improved them to 23-11 on the season, 10-7 in SAA play.
All four Petrels honored during Senior Day had at least one extra-base hit, one RBI and one run scored on the afternoon. McAlpin had the most productive day of the four, as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored, winding up just a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Trice hit his first home run of the year and the second of his career, finishing the day 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. Kulick went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Turnquest had a 1-for-4 day with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Oglethorpe junior Joseph Marco picked up his first win of the season in relief, improving his record to 1-3. He went four strong innings, allowing no runs on two hits, walking one and striking out three. He entered the game in the fourth inning, after the Colonels had rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game, and shut them down for his four innings of work, allowing the Petrels the opportunity to get runs back up on the board and take the lead back.
Oglethorpe got off to a big start in the second inning, pushing five runs across in the frame. Junior second baseman Keith Dearden singled with one out to start the rally, then freshman catcher Adrian Celata walked and McAlpin gave the Petrels a 3-0 lead with his second home run of the season. The inning didin't end there, though. With two outs, Trice reached on an infield single andTurnquest was hit by a pitch. Trice then stole third and junior shortstop Spencer Transue drove him home with a hard-hit ball off the Centre third baseman's chest. Kulick followed with an RBIdouble down the right-field line, making it 5-0 through two.
The Colonels got all five back in the top of the third, most of it on a grand slam from right fielderGreyson Evans, tying the game at 5-apiece. Marco came in and restored order, however, and the Petrels put another five-spot on the board in the fifth. Kulick was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and, after an error and a fielder's choice, the Petrels had runners at the corners with one out. A Celata sacrifice fly drove in Kulick to give the Petrels the lead back and McAlpin extended it with an RBI triple into the right-center gap. After a pitching change, Schmutz walked and Trice launched his three-run homer over the left-field fence to move the Petrels into a 10-5 advantage. The Petrels added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, as well, with Dearden driving in a run on a groundout in the sixth and Turnquest doubling home Schmutz in the seventh. The Petrels cruised home from there, allowing Centre to score three more times, including twice more in the ninth, but never seriously threaten.
"This was a nice way to celebrate Senior Day," said Head Coach Dan Giordano. "Joey and Vernonwent deep on their big day, which is always great to see happen. The bats came out again today and we just didn't let up offensively. We've given ourselves a chance to make a move in the finalSAA weekend before the conference tournament begins."
Today's win coupled with Berry's loss to Hendrix moves the Petrels into fourth place in the SAA standings, percentage points ahead of the Vikings. Oglethorpe is also now just a game back of Rhodes for third place. The Petrels will go against Berry in the final SAA series of the season next weekend in Mount Berry, Ga., with the winner earning at least fourth place in the league. The Petrels cannot finish any lower than fifth in the league standings.
Before heading to Northwest Georgia, the Petrels will take on Piedmont in a midweek non-conference tilt at Anderson Field Tuesday night at 7 p.m., weather permitting.