Greensboro College Athletics Update:Pride Baseball begins season at (3-0) with two wins in Georgia on Saturday/Men’s and Women’s Basketball go with W’s

Pride Baseball Remains Prefect With Doubleheader Sweep of Covenant
(Courtesy of Wes Gullett, Greensboro College Sports Information Director)

LOOKOUT MTN., Ga. – The Greensboro College baseball team swept a doubleheader against the Scots of Covenant College.

The Pride won game one by a 12-8 mark before completing the three-game sweep with a 5-0 victory in game two.

The two-game sweep moves the Pride to 3-0 on the season. It also marks the first time since the 2008 season a Greensboro College baseball team has started out the season 3-0.

Game One

Greensboro jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in game one after Blake Glass doubled home Brandon Soden who reached on a Scots error.

The Pride then tacked on three more runs in the second inning before Covenant answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. Zach Neumeister and Glass each had an RBI in the inning.

Covenant was then able to take it first lead of the game at 5-4 before Greensboro quickly tied the game in the fourth inning. Brandon Soden led off the inning with a double down the left field lined before coming around to score following another Scots error.

After shutting down Covenant in the bottom of the inning, Greensboro exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a five-run lead. Brady Dignan singled home the first run of the inning before Hunter Curtis scored after a pitch hit Soden. Adam Murray and Michael Faul had an RBI later in the inning before Jimmy Short hit into a double play to score Soden.

Greensboro was then able to extend their advantage to 12-5 with two more runs in the sixth inning. Hunter Curtis came in to score on a Neumeister fielder’s choice despite being caught in a rundown before Soden hit a one out triple to score Neumeister from third base.

Despite the large lead, Covenant was able to pull within four runs in the seventh inning before Andrew Ray recorded his first save of the season with a strike out to end the game.

Tyler Garam started on the mound for the Pride but was only able to pitch three innings and did not factor into the decision. Willis Booth came on in relief and was credited for the win. Dignan and Soden had two hits each, while Glass, Michael Faul, Mac Graham, Scotty McGuire, and Curtis had one hit each.

Game Two

Michael Faul got Greensboro on the board quickly in the first inning after he plated Tim Osborne from third base on a fielder’s choice.

Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Adam Murray tallied his first RBI of the season with a walk to give Greensboro a 2-0 lead.

The Pride then added one run in the third inning before adding two final runs in the sixth inning. Murray plated Faul on a fielder’s choice in the third inning, while Jacob Rodriguez recorded an RBI single to plate Edward Milian in the sixth inning.

Piero Amador, who pitched 5 2/3-innings of two-hit baseball, struck out six batters to earn the victory, while Christian Kercado and Curtis tossed the final 3 1/3 innings. Soden and Rodriguez finished the contest with a team-high two hits, while Neumeister, Faul, Milian, and Murray had one hit each.

“This was a nice weekend for our guys,” Head Coach Frank Maldonado said. “The team played with a lot of energy for all three games and I could not be more proud. All three of our starters, along with our bullpen guys, came in and pitched to contact and our position players did their jobs behind them.

“With that being said, this is just a start to a very long season as we are in a marathon and not a sprint as there is a lot of baseball left to play. We will get back to the field for practice Monday to prepare for our home opener next weekend.”

The Pride baseball team will return to action Saturday when they host Southern Virginia University in a doubleheader. The first pitch of Game 1 is set for 1 p.m. For more information on Greensboro College baseball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com. Also, be sure to follow the Pride baseball team on twitter at @GCPrideBaseball.

Gatling’s Career High Lifts Pride Men Past William Peace

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Joseph Gatling scored a career-high 37 points as the Greensboro College men’s basketball team defeated the Pacers of William Peace University Saturday, 106-97.

The Pacers took an early three-point lead before Greensboro used a 15-2 run to take a 20-10 lead with 11:56 remaining in the half. Cornelius Johnson hit the backend of a two-shot foul before Christopher Corbin and Gatling hit a layup on back-to-back possessions. Darus Maddox then added five points, while Johnson also hit a jumper from the elbow.

William Peace then went on a 15-6 run over the next three-minutes to pull within 26-25.

After Greensboro extended their lead to eight at 37-45, Donavan Griffith, Gatling, and Darus Maddox combined for a 9-0 run to put the Pride on top by 15. Gatling started the run with a long three-pointer before Griffith recorded two monstrous dunks to ignite the Pride bench.

Following the Greensboro run, William Peace went on 5-2 run over the final 1:44 of the half but Greensboro took a 56-44 lead into halftime.

William Peace was able to pull within seven points 10 minutes into the second half before Greensboro exploded on a 12-0 run to take a 91-71 lead. Maddox paced the run with six points, while Gatling, Lorenzo Marry, and Corbin combined for six points.

Despite a late push by the Pacers, Greensboro was able to secure the nine-point victory.

“As a team we have to keep going and finish the game,” Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. “I don’t think we did that today but overall I am proud of my guys.

“Darus and Joe both had an outstanding game for us today. We have a very good basketball team but we have to carry this momentum into tomorrow when we play another very tough opponent in Averett.”

Maddox also finished with a career-high 28 points, while Corbin (15) and Griffith (10) also finished in double figures. Gatling also led the team with eight rebounds, while Hamilton Hawkins, Marry, and Griffith had five boards each.

The Pride men will return to action a 1 p.m. Sunday when they host Averett University. For more information on Greensboro College men’s basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.

Women’s Basketball Tops Cougars On Road

DANVILLE, Va. – The Pride women’s basketball team picked up a hard fought road victory at Averett University Saturday, 61-55.

The Pride and the Cougars traded buckets to start the game before the Pride went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-9 lead. Kamerin Williams sparked the run with a jumper before Kylee Barry followed it up with a three-pointer. Williams then closed out the run with another jumper.

Averett then tied the game a short time later before Greensboro outscored the Cougars 12-4 over the final three minutes of the period to take an eight-point lead. Courtney Pearsall tallied six points during the run, while Monica Smalls and Rasheika Gregory combined for the remaining six points.

Neither team was able to get their offense going in the second period but Greensboro was able to take a narrow 27-25 lead into the break.

After trading baskets for the next 13 minutes of basketball, Greensboro was able to knock down nine free throws over the final three minutes of the fourth period to secure the six-point victory.

Courtney Pearsall had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds. Williams finished with 12 points, while Katie Lewis has 10 points. Smalls hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds.

“Courtney stepped up big for us today and had a great game,” Head Coach Randy Tuggle said. “We did pretty well as a team in most areas but we struggled on the defensive glass.

“We are continuing to move forward, and this was a great win for us.”

The Pride women are back in action tomorrow, Sunday, when they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on the Fighting Angels of Meredith College. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 P.M. For more information on Greensboro College women’s basketball, please continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.

Men’s Tennis Drops Season Opener To Belmont Abbey

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College men’s tennis team dropped its season opener to Belmont Abbey Saturday, 9-0.

Carlos Barragan fell at No. 1 singles by scores of 6-2 and 6-0, while Daniel Pace fell at No. 2 singles by scores of 6-1 & 6-2.

Justin Kimball, Jervis Garcia, Warren Washington, and Chris Grissom also competed at singles for the Pride.

Greensboro also dropped all three doubles matches by identical 8-0 scores.

“We were outmatched today from top to bottom but it didn’t stop our guys from fighting for every point,” Head Coach Randy Alexander said. “Carlos had a good match at No. 1 but a lot of his games went to duce. The same thing also happened at No. 2.”

The Pride men’s tennis team will return to action Feb. 10 when they host Lees-McRae College. For more information on Greensboro College men’s tennis, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.