Baseball hosted Brunswick Community College who is ranked #6 in NJCAA Division II baseball for their last conference series. The Trojans took game two from the Dolphins, beating them for the first time in program history.
The Trojans recognized 18 sophomores before game three on Saturday and played their last game on Trojan Field for the year. Baseball has made the Region X/South Atlantic District Conference Tournament for the first time in the six years of the program. They finished the regular season 27-28 overall and 17-18 in conference play before they head to Burlington, NC on Thursday to start postseason play.
FTCC vs. Brunswick Community College
Game One- 2-14, Loss
The Trojans scored first in game one and held the lead up until the third inning. The game stayed in reach up until the top of the ninth when the Dolphins pulled ahead and scored seven runs.
In the bottom of the first, Devin Outlaw (Orange Park, FL) hit a one out double down the third base line. He then scored on a ground ball and Dolphin error to put the Trojans on the scoreboard.
Brunswick tied it up in the top of the second, but the Trojans regained their lead in the bottom of the inning. Wilmer Cuevas (Brentwood, NY) singled to leadoff the inning and scored on an RBI single from Zavion Ingram (Clayton, NC).
The Trojans couldn’t get another run across in the final innings of the game.
Caleb Holland (Fayetteville, NC), Ben Rohrbach (Stafford, VA) and Michael Abrahanson (Dominican Republic) threw a combined nine innings for the Trojans.
Game Two- 6-4, Win
Game two started the same as game one, the Trojans scored one run in the first inning. This time, they continued to score in the second to take their lead back and never lose it.
Jaylon Woodley (Courtland, VA) reached on an error to start the inning off and Outlaw singled. Woodley scored on a drop third strike before the final two outs of the inning.
Brunswick took their only lead in the second when they scored two runs, but the Trojans responded in the bottom of the inning.
Logan Charlesworth (Fayetteville, NC) walked and Hall reached on an error. Ingram drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Woodley singled to tie the game and Outlaw hit a sacrifice fly to give the Trojans back the lead. Holland and Biz Ortiz (Eastover, NC) hit back to back singles to plate two more Trojan baserunners.
The Dolphins pulled the game within one run in the sixth inning, but the Trojans get an insurance run in the sixth.
Charlesworth hit a leadoff double and Hall singled for an RBI.
Brett Alvis (Hanover, VA) started on the mound throwing 5.1 innings of work. He gave up five hits, four runs and had three strikeouts. Matthew Roberts (Canton, NC) finished the final 1.2 innings holding the Dolphins to only two hits and no runs.
Game Three- 8-11, Loss
After a cloudy sophomore recognition ceremony, as soon as they started the first inning the players were pulled off for a ten minute rain delay. When the game resumed, the Dolphins came out for three runs in the first.
For the third game in a row, the Trojans scored one run in the first inning. Woodley singled and was hit in by an RBI single from Ortiz.
Brunswick scored three runs in the second and the Trojans responded with one.
Xavier Colucci (Orange Park, FL) drew a one out walk before Ingram doubled off the fence. Woodley hit an RBI ground ball to score Colucci.
The Trojans scored five runs in the fourth inning to pull within one. Hall was hit by a pitch and Colucci doubled down the right field line. Ingram singled for one run and Woodley doubled to plate one more. Trenten Grigley (Kannapolis, NC) singled to keep the rally going and Ortiz had another RBI single. Grigley stole home for the Trojans seventh run before the final two outs of the inning.
One more run scored in the sixth. Woodley ledoff with another double and Grigley singled on a bunt. Woodley scored on a first and third play to pull the Trojans back within two.
Going into the bottom of the eighth, the Dolphins led 11-8.
Zamar Lewis (Dublin, NC) hit a one out double and was on second base when a lightning delay started. When the game went to resume, the rain started and the game was called.
The Trojans used four arms in the contest: Payton Jernigan (Dunn, NC), Tanner McNeal (Currituck County, NC), Adam Smith (Raleigh, NC) and Jack Anderson (Saint Simmons Island, GA).
Baseball will travel to Burlington, NC for a 10am game on Thursday, May 9. This is the start of postseason double elimination conference tournament play.
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