Gaston College baseball rolls past Harford, Md., in rematch of 2023 East District playoff game

Facing a team it nipped in last year's National Junior College Athletic Association East District tournament it hosted at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park, Gaston College's top 10-ranked Rhinos knew they needed a top effort to come out victorious.

That's exactly what Gaston College got with runs in five innings of a convincing 11-4 win over Harford, Md., Community College on Tuesday afternoon.

After the visiting Owls (1-4) scored first, the Rhinos responded with three runs in the bottom of the second inning and added two more runs in the fourth, three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth.

"We're excited about where we are but there's a lot to improve on," said Gaston College head coach Shohn Doty, whose team this week has been ranked No. 3 nationally by Dream Big Athletics and No. 4 by 2-Year Baseball.

The Rhinos improved to 14-2 overall behind an 11-hit offense that also drew 10 walks and four-man pitching effort that limited Harford to seven hits.

Doty's only complaint was a defense that committed five charged errors and could've had two more if not for quick reactions on dropped pop ups to get forceouts.

"We were very uncharacteristic on defense, which we know we have to clean up," Doty said. "That'll get you beat if you don't improve."

Seth Christmas (3 hits, 1 RBI, double, walk), Caleb Estes (2 home runs, 5 RBIs, walk), Justin Smith (2 hits, 1 RBI, walk) and Freddie Oliver (1 hit, 2 walks) led the offense.

After the Owls scored in the top of the second inning, Estes' three-run home run in the bottom of the frame put Gaston College ahead for good.

Smith, Andrew Muraco and Christmas later added RBI singles and Estes' slugged two-run home run.

On the mound, starter Gabe Hernandez (3 innings) and relievers Shane Thorson (3 innings), Wagner Morrissette (2 innings) and Landon Carr (1 innings) combined to strike out 10 batters and yield seven hits and two walks with Thorson getting credit for the win.

"I thought Gabe again gave us a real quality start," Doty said. "And our bullpen behind him was solid."

Harford had just opened its 2024 season in Florence, S.C., over the weekend, splitting games with Florence-Darlington Tech and losing twice to Brunswick Community College. Gaston College edged Harford 8-7 last year in the 2023 East District tournament that the Rhinos won before advancing to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Col.

This season, Harford's Region 20 is the designated host for the East District tournament.

The Rhinos return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a single game against Pro5 Academy at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park.