2008 Woodie Awards
Crusaders slide to 7-24 record, Vance nabs no hitter
Issue date: 3/22/06 Section: Sports
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Staff Writer
The baseball team has struggled over the last two weeks, going 1-8 on a nine game road trip over spring break and 1-4 at home last week.
"It was long in a bad way…we struggled protecting the lead," said head coach Tim Nihart on the team's spring break.
Spring break started out on a positive note on Wednesday, March 1, when the Crusaders traveled to Mars Hill for a doubleheader. North Greenville took the first game 6-1, as pitcher Devin Vance, sophomore business administration, threw a complete game. Catcher Rick Broadway, junior sport management, led NGU's offense with a three-run home run, while shortstop Mike Reis, junior Christian studies, and outfielder Chris Tate, senior mathematics, each had two hits. However, NGU lost the second game 9-6, as pitcher Dylan Davidson, junior sport management, threw five innings and allowed seven runs. Broadway, as well as outfielder Eric Loy, senior business administration, each had two RBI in the game.
The Crusaders traveled to Trevecca Nazarene University for three games Friday and Saturday, March 3-4. In the first game on Friday, the Crusaders were up 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, but three doubles and two errors led to 3 runs, two unearned, to give TNU the 10-9 win. Tate had two RBI and Loy and catcher Kyle Baron, junior history, each had three RBI in the game.
Saturday held a doubleheader for NGU and TNU, as TNU took the first game 10-0, and the second 6-2. Two NGU errors resulted in four unearned runs, as pitcher Brandon Young, junior marketing, gave up 9 runs in four innings of work.
The Crusaders lost the second game 6-2, as they kicked the ball around for three errors.
NGU played a doubleheader at Georgia College and State University on Tuesday, March 7. The Crusaders lost the first game 6-2 as they left five men on base and the defense allowed 15 hits.
In the second game, NGU had a 3-0 lead on GCSU going into the bottom of the sixth, but four hits and an error brought home four GCSU runs as they won 4-3.
NGU went to St. Andrews University on Wednesday, March 8 for yet another doubleheader, and lost both games by scores of 5-4 and 13-5. Seven men left on base after scoring four runs in the first inning cost NGU the game. In the second game, NGU left nine on base and committed five errors that lead to nine unearned runs.
The Crusaders came home to play Chowan College. NGU lost to Chowan 2-0, as Davidson allowed only one earned run in seven innings, amassing 10 strikeouts.
"We should have won that game, but our offense struggled," Nihart said.
Thursday, March 16 was quite a day for NGU baseball, as Vance threw a no-hitter to defeat Chowan 5-0. Designated hitter Brett Hamilton, sophomore mathematics, hit a grand slam to drive in 4 of North Greenville's 5 runs.
Fifth-ranked West Virginia State University came to town for three games March 17-18. North Greenville lost those games by scores of 11-1, 11-5, and 13-7.
Despite a 7-24 record, .246 team batting average and 4.47 team earned run average, Nihart remains optimistic in saying, "We could have won seven more games… We still believe that positive things can happen."
The Crusader defense has also turned 28 double plays in 31 games, while the offense has been successful on 45 out of 50 stolen base attempts with Tate leading the team 17 steals on 17 attempts.
"Once we get guys on base, we've done a great job of stealing bases," Nihart said.
This week NGU will host Tusculum College in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 21 and will travel to Chowan College March 23 -24.