Diamond Bishops Sweep WPU, Move to 5-1 in USA South Play

Diamond Bishops Sweep WPU, Move to 5-1 in USA South Play

Rocky Mount, N.C. - The Battling Bishop baseball team swept a three-game USA South series versus William Peace over the weekend at Bauer Field. NCWC is now 13-5 overall, 5-1 in league action.

In Friday's opener, the two squads traded two-run homers in the second, with NCWC's coming off the bat of junior transfer Tony Sanchez. After trading single runs in the third, senior Justin DiSanto put Wesleyan on top for good with a sac-fly to left that brought home Sanchez and gave the Bishops a 4-3 lead. NCWC went on to plate four runs in the fifth, capped by a two-run blast by senior James Lovett.

Junior Ryan Grant (4-0) earned the victory on the hill after battling through five innings. Joseph Borgerding picked up his first save with four innings of relief work that sealed the 8-4 win.

Saturday's game two saw the Bishops plate seven runs on nine hits in the fourth inning to turn a 1-1 tie into an eventual 10-2 rout. Junior hurler T.J. Wilkie (3-0) went seven complete, allowing just two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. Senior Andrew Franklin was stellar in relief, tossing the final two scoreless innings and striking out five.

Offensively, Lovett and freshman Trey Croom each went 3-for-5 and combined to drive in five runs.

Sunday's finale was all Bishops, beginning with a six-run second second inning that featured yet another Lovett blast. Freshman Hunter Cannon also enjoyed a productive day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two driven in.

Junior starter Richard Harrell (2-1) went five complete en route to the win, while senior Robert Mondoux earned the save by allowing just one run on three hits with five Ks over four innings of work.

The Bishops continue league play next weekend with a three-game set at Covenant College. Friday's twinbill is slated for a noon start.