Sunday, February 10, 2008

TUSCULUM BASEBALL WINS FIFTH IN A ROW, BEAT ST. ROSE, 19-8

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. --- Payden Houser went 3-for-3 and scored five run, tying a school record as No. 11 Tusculum College defeated the College of St. Rose, 19-8 Sunday at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in a game that was called after seven innings. The Pioneers (5-2) went undefeated in its four contests in Kannapolis over the weekend, while averaging over 14 runs per game.

Houser also recorded four RBI and tied a single-game record with his two triples. The first triple came in the first inning when Tusculum plated nine runs as 12 Pioneers came to bat. Houser’s triple came with the bases loaded. He also added a single, a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Brandon Behenna posted a 3-for-5 performance, along with four RBI, while Christian Rosa went 3-for-3 with four RBI and scored a pair of runs. Maikol Gonzalez and Sean Cotton also had two hits each in the Pioneers’ fifth straight win.

Tusculum starter Tio McLean (1-0) recorded the victory as he went five innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and struck out three.

The Pioneers will open South Atlantic Conference play next weekend in a three-game series at Lenoir-Rhyne College. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday.

- TC -