Rocky Mount, N.C. - Jackson Pleasant tossed eight scoreless innings, and Hayden Williams delivered the game-winning RBI in the eighth to lift their Battling Bishop baseball team to a 1-0 win over the Jumbos of Tufts University on Thursday afternoon at Bauer Field.
A pitcher's dual from start to finish, the game remained scoreless over the first 7 ½ innings. In the bottom of the eighth, junior Tyler Clark reached first on a fielder's choice and promptly stole second. A groundout later, Williams drove in the game's lone run with a two-out double to left that plated Clark and provided the final margin of victory.
Ironically, it was the same Williams/Clark combo that kept the game scoreless in the fifth. It was then that Williams gunned down the Jumbos' Eric Weikert at home, with Clark applying the tag at the plate.
Both starting pitchers had great outings with Pleasant (1-1) receiving the win, allowing six hits with eight strikeouts over eight complete. Jake Swartout earned his third save of the season by tossing a scoreless ninth.
Tufts pitcher Christian Sbilly (1-1) received the loss, as he too pitched eight innings allowing one run on six hits and striking out five.
With the win the Bishops better their record to 14-15, while Tufts drop to 4-2 on the year.
Wesleyan will travel to Newport News, Va. this weekend to take on the Captains of Christopher Newport.
*This release courtesy of NCWC Sports Information Intern Kevin Quicker.