Bishops Pick Up Win over LC, Norzagaray Honored

Ciro Norzagaray
Ciro Norzagaray

Rocky Mount, N.C. - Freshman hurler Ciro Norzagaray has been named the USA South's Rookie Pitcher of the Week after teaming with senior Jake Swartout for a 7-0 shutout of LaGrange College on Sunday. The win helped the Bishops avoid a league sweep, as the Panthers took Sunday's opener by a 3-0 score and wrapped up the series with a 6-5 defeat of NCWC on Monday.

Norzagaray, who hails from Mexico City, earned his second save of the season in Wesleyan's 7-0 win in Sunday's nightcap. The rookie right-hander came in and got the Bishops out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and proceeded to toss 3.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five. Swartout (2-1) also struck out five and scattered seven hits en route to the win.

Offensively, senior Jake Alexander went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, while sophomore Stephen Machin batted 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Junior Hayden Williams also tallied a trio of RBIs.

The win avenged a 3-0 shutout by LaGrange in the opener. Alexander, Jason Riley and James Kornegay all turned in two hits each, but the Bishops were unable to plate a run. Junior Will Beasley (1-2) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits with four K's over six complete.

Sunday's split set up Monday's rubber game, and the Panthers wasted no time getting on the board with a six-spot in the top of the first, chasing starting Hatteras Brooks (2-1) after just 2/3 of an inning. Four of the runs were unearned and forced NCWC to play catch-up the rest of the afternoon.

While pitchers Matthew Rhyne, Daniel Carroll and Dillon Moore held the Panthers in check, the Bishops began a valient comeback with a pair of runs in the second and seventh innings to make the score 6-4.

Wesleyan proceeded to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, getting to within one, 6-5, on a Panther balk. LaGrange then elected to intentionally walk Machin to again load the bases, and they eventually ended the threat and game with a groundout to shortstop.

Williams went 3-for-4 to pace the Bishops on offense, while freshman Justin DiSanto had two hits on the day.

Wesleyan (5-7, 3-3 USA South) returns to action on Wednesday when the Bishops host non-conference opponent Lynchburg College. First pitch is slated for 3:00pm at Bauer Field.