College Baseball Final – Guilford 1, William Peace 0

CARY, N.C. – Guilford College’s John Todd threw seven three-hit shut-out innings as the Quakers claimed a Friday evening victory over William Peace University, 1-0, at the USA Baseball National Training Center.

Todd (1-0) held the Pacers (2-2) without a hit in the first four innings of the contest as two of the Pacers’ three hits came in the fifth inning where William Peace placed runners on first and second with two outs before Todd induced a fly out to end the inning. The senior gave up only one more hit in his final inning, but quickly shook off the lead-off hit as his infield turned a double play to quickly end the inning. Todd finished with four strike outs and a four walks in his first start of the season.

Josh Shepherd and Trevor Denton closed the door on William Peace, holding the Pacers without a hit in the final two innings. Shepherd shook off two eighth-inning two-out walks by fanning Mikey Anerton to close the inning. Denton struck out two of three batters in the bottom of the ninth inning, collecting his second save of the season.

Denton provided the run support for the Quakers (2-1) early as he connected on a one-out single in the top of the first inning, bringing home Rocco Wilcox after a lead-off double to begin the game. The Quakers’ meat of the order tallied three of Guilford’s six hits in the contest as Joe Metts and Stuart Laws each recorded a hit a piece to complement Denton, who started the contest at second base.

Trevor Pence (1-1) claimed the loss for the Pacers, fanning seven batters in an eight and two-third innings effort where he gave up six hits and walked two. Tyler Tilson led William Peace’s bats, posting the lone multi-hit effort on the evening with a two-for-three effort.

The Quakers and the Pacers continue their three-game multi-site series tomorrow, with tomorrow’s game taking place at Guilford’s McBane Field for a 2 p.m. contest.