DANVILLE, Va. - The Nc Wesleyan College Baseball team used a record day from sophomore starter Danny Thompson as they swept a conference road doubleheader from Averett University on Saturday.
Wesleyan used their offense to roll in game one to an 11-6 victory before the Bishops outlasted the Cougars 5-3 in 11 innings in game two as Thompson threw all 11 innings recording out a modern school record of 17 strikeouts. It is the most Ks in a game for a Bishop since TJ Wilkie struck out 15 in 2016. The USA South record is 20 strikeouts in a game set in 1993.
In game two, the Bishops got out to an early 3-0 lead scoring one run each in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd innings of play. A solo home run from sophomore SS Tyson Bass in the first was followed by an Emry Jackson sacrifice fly in the second and a Blake Scott sac fly in the third.
However, AU would climb back into the game with a three-run 4th inning on an RBI single and two-run double. However, Thompson would then settle in and and proceed to shut out the Cougars over the next 7 innings and not allow another hit until the 11th. Thompson struck out the side in the 9th inning as well as the 11th to close out the win. He finished the day allowing just 2 earned runs on 3 hits with 2 walks and 17 strikeouts.
In the top of the 11th, Wesleyan scored the go ahead runs via a Jaiden Barker RBI single and Alex Moskal sacrifice fly that scored outfielders Zach Lyon and Drifton Padgett, respectively. Bass led the Bishops with the only multi-hit game.
GAME 1: NCWC 11, AU 6
Earlier in the day, the Bishops were led by junior 2B and Player of the Week Davie Morgan as he went 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. A Scott RBI single, a Lyon sac fly, and a Morgan RBI single staked the Bishops to an early 4-0 lead after 4 innings.
Wesleyan then made it 8-1 with a big 4-run 6th inning on RBI singles from Bass and Morgan, a sac fly from Jackson Hobbs and a wild pitch before Averett cut it to four scoring three runs inthe 6th to knock senior starter Derrick Carter out of the game. However, Carter (5-0) would go on to get the win throwing 6 innings allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 10 strikeouts.
The Bishops then added 3 runs of insurance in the 8th and 9th innings on Bass and Scott RBI singles and Moskal sac fly. Senior reliever Kevin Williams finished the game for the Bishops throwing the final 3 innings to pick up the save allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out four.
Wesleyan remains unbeaten in division play at 8-0 while improving to 15-9 overall. Averett falls to 9-17 and 3-5 in the division.
The teams will finish their series on Sunday at 1:00 pm.