GREENSBORO, N.C. – Devin Tonkins (Greensboro, N.C.) rifled a line drive single into center, and Carter Blum (McLeansville, N.C.) sauntered home for yet another walk-off win, the fourth of the season already for the Guilford College baseball team (11-1, 2-0 ODAC) as they came back from down seven in the final three frames to claim a 9-8 victory over Westminster College (4-6, 0-0 PAC) on Wednesday afternoon at McBane Field.
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— Guilford College Baseball (@QuakersBaseB) March 12, 2025
The Quakers benefited from their top showing from a starter this season as Tanner Royals (High Point, N.C.) one-upped Jacob Phillips' (Browns Summit, N.C.) Tuesday showing with 5.0 innings of work allowing just two runs, one earned, on eight hits while striking out a career-high six Titans, although he did not factor into the decision. Instead, Chase Wade (Archdale, N.C.), who tossed the final 1.1 innings allowing just a single baserunner on an HBP, against a K, got the pitching victory with the sudden-death win to improve to 3-0.
Jon Albers got the ball for the guests, throwing the first 4.1 innings allowing one earned run on three walks and four hits against four strikeouts, quieting the Guilford offense although he would not have qualified for the win even if his team had held on. Instead, it was Wyatt Walker who ended up on the hook after blowing the save, allowing a single unearned run on a hit and three walks, one intentional, fanning two.
The walk-off knock was just the icing on the cake of a really quality day at the plate for Tonkins who finished with a career-high for hits in a 3-for-5 showing with a walk, a run scored, and a run driven in. Skyler Dark (Pleasant Garden, N.C.) joined him with a trio of hits, connecting on a pair of triples in a 3-for-5 day with a walk, scoring twice, and driving in a pair. Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) reached in four of his five plate appearances with a double, a hit by pitch, and two bases on balls drawn, stealing a bag, driving in two RBI, and scoring one run. In a contest that saw 18 different Quakers enter offensively, and 16 get at least one plate appearance, not many had the chance to accumulate many stats, although Ryne Rodrigues (Summerfield, N.C.) made the most of his two trips to the dish, driving in two runs and scoring once adding a triple and a walk.
David Kelly headlined the Westminster offense with a 3-of-4 showing that included a double while driving in two. Jack Strausser also had a double in his 2-for-4 performance while walking once, driving in one, and scoring once. Chase Tomko went deep for the guests, finishing 2-of-5 and Braeden Campbell crossed the plate twice.
After Royals and Albers traded goose eggs in the first two frames, Westminster would be the first to strike in the top of the third. Parker Lyons got the rally going with a one-out, infield single then came the innings pivotal play, as Logan Murgenovich rolled over a potential double play ball to Gavin Fleming (Gibsonville, N.C.) and he went for the tag on the passing runner, but the ball got jarred free from his glove and everyone was safe. The Titans capitalized with a trio of singles ensuing off the bats of Kelly, Derek Beach, and Strausser. The first two plated runs, but Dark cut down a third possible run with a pinpoint throw home on the fly, keeping the deficit at 2-0.
Guilford got on the board in in the fifth inning as Josh Howard (Salem, Va.) reached on a one-out free pass and was pinch run for by Jackson Shaner (Moncure, N.C.). Dark made the change matter, rocketing a low liner over the shortstop that scooted all the way to the wall in left-center, for the first three-bagger of the season for the 2024 conference-leader scoring the run in the process. Devin Tonkins (Greensboro, N.C.) took a base on balls and Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) got hit by a pitch, loading the pillows, but the Quakers would have to settle for just the single tally.
The Titans created distance in the top of the seventh with Murgenovich reaching on an error to open the frame before coming all the way around on a Kelly double. After the first out was recorded, Strausser doubled in a run, Campbell singled in another, and Tomko silenced the McBane Field crowd, albeit temporarily, taking the initial offering he got from Sam Melton (Cartersville, Ga.) over the Greensboro Monster in straight-away left for his first home run of the season, making the score 8-1.
The offense of the Quakers finally got going in the bottom of the seventh. Dark ripped a single through the shortstop hole then Tonkins dumped a knock into center with one out to get GC started. Smith mashed a double off the wall in right, scoring both runners and giving the Guilford bench life. After a flyout for the second out, Chase Wade (Archdale, N.C.) made sure the opportunity was not squandered, singling to right field for a run. Rodrigues followed by lofting a ball down the line in right but with the outfield swung around expecting him to pull, the ball found grass with Rodrigues getting three bags on the play. The home team benefited from even more luck when Ethan George (Burlington, N.C.) lifted a flyball to center that Quinn Marquis lost in the sun, allowing it to fall for a double and while the third out ensued, the Quakers were right back in the ballgame at 8-6.
Griffin Icenhower (Kernersville, N.C.) and Wade combined for a scoreless top of the eighth before the offense got back to work in the home half. Aaron Williams (Mocksville, N.C.) reached on a chopper towards short and came all the way home when Dark pummeled his second triple of the afternoon off the top of the wall in right-center, nearly careening away far enough for him to go all 360 feet, but with no one out, it was not worth the risk. After a strikeout, Smith and Jordan Burrough (Greensboro, N.C.) each took walks before a pitching change and another K. Rodrigues would make sure GC capitalized, however, drawing a free pass to level the score at eight-all entering final frame.
Wade set down the side in order in the top of the inning then Blum drew a four-pitch walk to begin the home half. He stole second as the first out was recorded on a strikeout then WC opted to give Dark first intentionally. That would set the stage for Tonkins who battled back from down 1-2 to get the count full, during which both runners would advance on a passed ball, and he cashed in with a clean single and a mob in shallow right-center after finishing the 9-8 win.
It is back to the road next for Guilford as they will head north for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup with Hampden-Sydney College on Saturday, March 15th. First pitch of the conference twin bill is set for noon.
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