Will Cornelius(NWG) makes Guilford College a winner on the road at Roanoke

SALEM, Va. – Will Cornelius’ (Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford) solo
homer in the eighth broke a 2-2 tie and gave visiting Guilford College a 3-2
win at Roanoke College Tuesday night. The Quakers’ (10-15, 4-4 ODAC) first
road win of the season completed a sweep of the season series with the
Maroons (8-14, 0-8 ODAC) and snapped a three-game losing skid.

Junior left-hander Eric Backus (1-0) fanned a career-high 10 and pitched
into the eighth inning for his first victory of the season. Senior Sammy
Stuart (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor) pitched the final 1.2 innings for his
second save of the season. He fanned Robbie Scott with runners on the
corners to end the game.

Cornelius finished with two hits on the night, including his first homer of
the season. Teammates D.J. Phillips and Danny Ditota also had two hits.
Phillips’ RBI single in the second scored Ditota and gave Guilford a 1-0
lead. Ditota also scored an unearned run in the seventh to open a 2-1
Quakers’ edge.

Roanoke tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on Nick Sburlati’s
leadoff homer, his first of the season. Scott and Sburlati both had two hits
for the Maroons. Mark Wimmer gave up one earned run and fanned six in seven
innings. Michael Haslem (2-6) took the loss in relief.

Guilford visits league-rival Eastern Mennonite University Saturday (3/26) in
a noon doubleheader.

Guilford (10-15, 4-4 ODAC) 010 000 110 – 3 9 2

Roanoke (8-14, 0-8 ODAC) 001 001 000 – 2 7 2

Pitchers: Guilford Eric Backus; Sammy Stuart (8) and Will Cornelius.
Roanoke: Mark Wimmer; Michael Haslem (8) and Matt Wallman.

Win – Backus (1-0). Loss – Haslem (2-6). Save – Stuart (2).

HR – GC – Will Cornelius (1). RC – Nick Sburlati (1).

Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics