Friday, March 21, 2008

HONTZ STRIKES OUT 13, EAGLES DOWN TUSCULUM 7-2

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Brett Hontz recorded a nine-inning gem as he struck out 13 to lead the No. 27 Carson-Newman College baseball team to a 7-2 South Atlantic Conference win at Tusculum College Friday night at Pioneer Park. The Eagles (24-9, 9-4 SAC) tallied a dozen hits, including Jason Gray as he went 3-for-5 with four RBI in the victory. Tusculum (19-10, 7-8 SAC) has its four-game winning streak halted, while suffering only its second home loss at home this year.

Hontz (6-1) surrendered two unearned runs in the first inning, only to blank the Pioneers for the next eight frames, striking out eight different batters and scattered six hits in his third complete game effort of the season.

Tyler Wynn also shined at the plate for Carson-Newman as he went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, while Derek Long also accounted for a 2-for-4 effort at the plate.

Tusculum’s Carlos Rivera went 2-for-4 with a triple, while Maikol Gonzalez added a pair of doubles, his 13^th and 14^th of the season. TC’s Christian Rosa went 0-for-4, ending his 24-game hitting streak.

TC got on the board first when Rivera connected on a one-out single and moved to third on Gonzalez’s first double of the night. Both would come into the score on an error by the catcher to pickoff Rivera at third as the throw sailed down the left field line as TC went up 2-0.

Carson-Newman answered with three runs in the second as the Eagles racked up four hits, including a two-run double by Gray. The Eagles added three more runs in the third, with Gray once again coming up with the big hit of the frame on a two-out, two-run single to right field, scoring Long and Jonathan McMahon.

Hontz motored along as he struck out the side twice and retired nine of the last 10 batters he would face to record the victory.

Tusculum starter Eric Donahue (2-1) suffered the loss as he went 2 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, six runs, four earned, walked one and struck out two. TC relievers Tyler Collins and Ryan Pfleger pitched well, allowing just one run and scattered six hits in the final six-plus innings.

The two teams will meet on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The games have been designated as “Sell-Out Saturday” as Tusculum will be attempting to set a new school attendance record at Pioneer Park.

- TC -