CARY, N.C. – William Peace University’s Christian Neal struck out eight batters while throwing all nine innings as Guilford College dropped a Friday afternoon contest with William Peace, 5-1.
Neal (3-6) received run support early as the Pacers posted all five runs in the first two innings. John Todd relieved Nick Blackwood (1-1) after one and one-third innings to shut down the Pacers at the plate, giving up just two hits and fanning one in three and two-thirds innings.
Josh Bishop continued to hold the Pacers in check with two hitless innings while striking out two and walking one. The freshman received run support in the top of the seventh inning after the Quakers loaded the bases with one out thanks to two singles and a walk, all with one out. Herc Ingels popped up to left field to drive home Kyle Humphrey before the Quakers were retired in the inning.
Jake Watkins pitched the final inning for the Quakers, striking out and walking one batter as his counterpart, Neal, record the final six outs of the contest without yielding a base runner.
Tyler Petersen added a stolen base to his 1-for-4 afternoon while Logan Jones and Michael Pinkston added one hit a piece.
Neal helped his own cause by driving in two Pacer runs while batting 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Trevor Nanney (2-for-3) and Tyler Klinedinst (2-for-4) were the remaining Pacers with multiple hits.
The Quakers and Pacers continue their stretch of three games in two days against each other tomorrow as Guilford hosts William Peace in a Senior Day doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.