College Baseball Final – Guilford 8, William Peace 4

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Chase Shuford threw seven innings and struck out six in Wednesday afternoon’s victory over William Peace University, 8-4.

Shuford (2-2) scattered eight hits and two runs in his seven inning effort while walking two. Nick Blackwood (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian Academy) provided relief for Shuford in the final two innings, striking out two batters.

The contest moved quickly over the first three innings with the Quakers holding to a 1-0 lead through three. Both sides converted on two-out situations in the fourth inning as the Pacers tied the contest in the top half of the inning before the Quakers responded with a two-run rally in the bottom half of the frame. After gaining two quick outs in the top of the fifth inning, the Pacers rallied to tie the score on one of four singles in the inning before the Quakers stranded the Pacers on every base to end half-inning. Guilford’s bats came to life in the bottom of the seventh inning where the Quakers score four runs all with one out on consecutive at-bats, capped by Chuck Noble’s RBI-single. The Pacers mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth inning where Will Cunningham drove in two runs, but the Pacers were quickly retired to end the game.

Three Quakers produced a multi-hit effort, led by Nathan Fulbright’s two-for-three day at the plate. Noble finished two-for-four with one RBI while Jacob Roberts also posted a two-for-four effort at the plate with one RBI.

Chase Roupp (1-3) claimed the loss for the Pacers in an afternoon where William Peace used five pitchers, none of which pitched longer than two inning. Roupp struck out two and walked one as he gave up two runs on three hits in two innings.

The Quakers (15-16, 4-10 ODAC) return to ODAC play Saturday, with a key noon doubleheader with Eastern Mennonite University on McBane Field.