Gaston College splits road doubleheader at Lenoir Community College

Gaston College extended its winning streak to 11 games before losing the nightcap of a doubleheader at Lenoir Community College on Friday afternoon.

The Rhinos (15-2) won 10-5 in the opener then lost 7-3 in the nightcap.

"You're only as good as how you prepare," Gaston College coach Shohn Doty said. "And we didn't prepare the right way. And that's on me.
"I will make those adjustments and we will play better tomorrow."

The finale of the three-game series against the host Lancers has been moved up to 10 a.m. on Saturday morning in hopes of beating the incoming rain expected to reach the Kinston area.

In the opener, Wade Kelly (2 hits, home run, 1 RBI), Trey Truitt (2 hits, double, 1 RBI), Pierson Gunnell (2 hits, 2 RBIs), J.D. Yakubinis (double, 2 RBIs) and Adam Quintero (double, 3 RBIs) and starter J.D. Everett and relievers Alex Jankowski and Hunter Shew yielded 13 hits total with Jankowski getting the victory and Shew the save.

In the nightcap, Truitt (3 hits) and Yakubinis (1 hit, 1 RBI) led the offense and starter Nolan Straniero and relievers Jaxson Mangum and Dusty Sanderlin yielded 13 hits with Straniero taking the loss.

Truitt got three of the Rhinos' four hits in the nightcap.

"From a pitching perspective, we were behind in the count all day and offensively, we couldn't make any adjustments," Doty said. "And they played really well. We haven't been hit around like that as a pitching staff all year and we didn't respond well to it."

Lenoir Community College is 10-4 on the season, the Lancers are coming off a 35-18 season last year and have advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series three times.