Tuesday, February 28, 2006

 

PIONEERS WIN AT USC UPSTATE 9-7, WOLFF SETS RECORD

 

Release courtesy of USC Upstate Sports Information

 

Josh Wolff
Josh Wolff establishes new TC career record scoring his 146th run

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ---  Tusculum broke a 7-7 tie in the top of the seventh inning when Adam Beacham drove in Josh Wolff with a single to give the Pioneers the lead as they would eventually go onto a 9-7 victory over USC Upstate on Tuesday afternoon at Harley Park. (Box Score)

 

Tusculum moves to 10-6-1 on the season while the Spartans drop to 7-8.

 

Wolff establishes a new school record scoring his 146th run of his career, surpassing the previous record (145) by Anthony Mercurio (1992-95).

 

Tusculum would jump out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Skip Talarek drove in Kenny Reed with a single to center-field while Lyall Foran drove in Tim Brown from third with a single to left-field to give Tusculum a 2-0 lead.  Talarek scored on a fielder's choice and Greg Stotser scored on a single to left-center by Tyler Mayfield to give the Pioneers an early four-run lead.

 

The Spartans would answer in their home half of the first, scoring two runs.  Brad Wingo led off and delivered a single through the left side and promptly went to third on a single by Bret Hansen.  Kyle Bowley delivered a line shot off the glove of third baseman Jake Corley that scored Wingo.  Hansen would later score on a balk by starting pitcher Kevin Hammons to make it a 4-2 game.

 

USC Upstate cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Bret Story doubled and scored on a single by Eric Guillen.

 

The Spartans would take a 6-5 lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Josh Clark singled to right-field and Wingo beat out a bunt to put runners at first and second with one out.  Hansen would then draw a walk to load the bases for Bowley.  Bowley drove a ball through the left side to plate Clark.  Andrew Runion drove in two runs with a single through the left side to give USC Upstate the one-run lead.

 

Tusculum would tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the fifth inning when Wolff drove home Stotser with a double to left.

 

The Pioneer re-took the lead at 7-6 in the top of the sixth inning when Talarek drove home Corley from third on a single to left.

 

USC Upstate countered right back in the home half of the sixth, tying the game at 7-7 when Matt Goyea tripled into the power alley in left-center to bring home Wingo from third.

 

Tusculum took the lead for good however, in the seventh when Beacham's single went through the left side to score Wolff with the go-ahead run. The Pioneer would pick up another run in the top of the ninth inning when Corley's safety squeeze bunt brought home Wolff.

 

Talarek and Wolff each went 3-for-5 to lead Tusculum.  Wingo was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Spartans.  Bowley and Runion each finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs apiece.

 

Pioneer reliever Michael Handley (2-0) earned the victory while USC Upstate reliever Ryan Poss (0-1) was credited with the loss.

 

Tusculum will open South Atlantic Conference play this weekend when it hosts Newberry for a three-game series, beginning with Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader.

 

- TC -