SMC Takes on Catawba and Salk
Matt Castillo
The SMC Pioneers baseball team’s week began on the road on Tuesday as they took on Catawba Valley Community College and fell to them by a final score of 3-1. They bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader won by a final score of 11-5. Jordan Young had a strong performance at the plate going 3-5 with 3 RBIs in the win.
The Pioners were on the road this weekend as they took on USC Salkehatchie they played a doubleheader against them on Saturday and Sunday, and it was a successful weekend as the Pioneers won all four games. In the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, they won by a final score of 3-1 in extra innings. In the second game of the doubleheader, they would go on to win by a final score of 8-0. Myles Daniels improved to 4-1 on the year as he pitched a complete-game shutout allowing just one hit, one walk, and 11 strikeouts.
On Sunday the Pioneers simply just put a beatdown on USC Salkehatchie in both games. They won the first game of the doubleheader 16-2 in five innings. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Pioneers would go on to win by a final score of 18-2 in six innings.
With the Pioneers going 5-1 in the week they have improved their record to 16-11 overall and 7-1 in conference play. This upcoming week the Pioneers will be home for a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 2 pm as they will take on Patrick Henry Community College. On the Weekend the Pioneers will be on the road for a 4 game set against USC Lancaster.
Clemson Tigers Cooling off Following Hot Start
Alex Smith
The Clemson Tigers’ hot start has officially come to an end. After a 14-0 start to the season, the Tigers dropped four straight games before bouncing back with an impressive 20-5 win over Miami on Sunday. They now sit at 15-4 overall, 1-2 in the ACC.
Friday starter Mack Anglin got knocked around by the Hurricanes as he allowed six runs in just three innings pitched. Miami cruised to an 11-4 win in the opener. On Saturday, the Tigers got a solid start from pitcher Nick Hoffman, but they couldn’t get anything going at the plate against Hurricanes’ pitcher Karson Ligon who held the Tigers to just three hits and one run in 5.2 innings as Miami came away with a 4-1 victory.
On Sunday the bats came alive as Clemson jumped out in front early and never let up finishing the day with 20 runs. Shortstop Benjamin Blackwell led the way with four hits and five RBIs from the leadoff spot.
Clemson lost to Coastal Carolina 16-7 Tuesday, and Winthrop Wednesday, before going to Pitt this weekend for another conference series. Pitt is not one of the better teams in the ACC and the Tigers should most likely finish the week 5-0, or at worst 4-1. Clemson is a legitimate Top-25 team and should remain so for the rest of the season. A sweep over Pitt and a series win over N.C. State next weekend and the Tigers would be in the conversation to host a regional.
