Written by: Bryce Johnson, Director of Athletic Communications
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Aaron Williams (Mocksville, N.C.) thrust his team in front with a two-run single in the sixth, before the Guilford College baseball team (15-8, 3-7 ODAC) exploded for five tallies in the seventh, running away with a 9-3 victory over Methodist University (18-9, 7-2 USA South) in their final nonconference clash at McBane Field for the season on Tuesday afternoon.
Making his first midweek start since he was a sophomore, Jacob Ray (Burlington, N.C.) turned in his best, and longest, outing of the season. Throwing the first 5.1 innings, the senior allowed just one earned run, two total, on seven hits and no walks while striking out four although he did not factor into the decision. Instead, it would be Jackson Marcellus (Chapel Hill, N.C.) who came on and upped his record to 4-0 with all his victories coming in relief. He allowed a hit and a walk, but also struck out a man over 1.2 innings of work.
Jackson Kuhn was really tough for the Monarchs in his start, allowing just one hit, but his pitch count got ran up by five walks. He whiffed five over 4.0 innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Josh Plisko would end up on the wrong end of the decision, walking three of the five men he faced over 0.2 innings, with two of them scoring as earned runs to fall to 0-1.
Williams was productive in all five of his plate appearances going 2-for-2 with a double, plus a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly, driving in a game-high three RBI. Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) returned to his normal self after an off week, recording a trio of hits over his four at-bats with a walk mixed in, scoring twice and driving in one. Carter Blum (McLeansville, N.C.) drove in two with his lone hit while Sam Melton (Cartersville, Ga.) and Christian Chinen (Honolulu, Hawaii) deserve shoutouts as neither had a hit, but both walked twice with the former scoring twice and the later once in the win.
For the guests, Blake Freeman had a strong day going 3-for-4 with the Monarchs' lone extra-base hit, a double, scoring once and driving in another while stealing two bases. Brandon Mauger was the only other player with multiple hits for MU, finishing 2-of-5 and scoring a run. Caleb Rogers drove in two runs without the benefit of a hit and Tristen Melvin scored the other MU run in a 1-for-4 performance
This one was a pitcher's duel across the first half of the game as Ray silenced the Monarchs, scattering five hits over the first five innings for GC and Kuhn returned the favor for MU, distributing five walks and a hit during the first four. It would end up requiring a pitching change to light the scoring spark as Methodist turned to Andrew Baur and Grayson Tudor (Reidsville, N.C.) greeted him with a corkscrew single past third. Williams sacrificed him to second and Smith rolled a single into center, scoring the game's initial run.
The guests responded, claiming the lead in the top of sixth, finally stringing some contact together against Ray. Mauger led off with a single then got sacrificed up another 90 feet and took third when Melvin reached on an error. Freeman would level the score, lining a single to left on a hit-and-run, with Melvin getting to third on the play. After GC changed to Marcellus, MU got the inherited runner in from third on a sacrifice fly, but he limited the damage, as the score stood at 2-1.
The Quakers seized the lead for good, though in the home half when Melton, Chinen, and Tudor drew free passes, all with two outs against Plisko. MU turned to Brandon Humphrey to try and get out of it, but Williams came through, sneaking a single past the diving shortstop to score the tying and go-ahead runs, and while the third out was made when Tudor got caught rounding second too far, GC had the lead and would bust the game wide open in the seventh.
Smith and Ryne Rodrigues (Summerville, N.C.) opened the rally with singles and Gavin Fleming (Gibsonville, N.C.) drew a walk to fill the bases with one out against Humphrey before the right-hander balked to force in a run. Blum followed by driving in the other two with an opposite-field single prior to Melton reaching on a fielder's choice, with an error resulting in no outs, and a Chinen base on balls. Tudor singled in the lead run, Williams brought in another on a sacrifice fly, and Guilford had firm control of the game, leading 8-2.
The teams traded tallies in the eighth on a Rogers RBI-groundout and a throwing error on the backside of a double play attempt that allowed Smith to score for GC, then Jack Ratliff (Greensboro, N.C.) dealt a scoreless ninth to complete the 9-3 win.
It will be Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play from here on out at McBane Field, starting tomorrow when the Quakers host Roanoke College for a single contest. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM.
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