Top-ranked Gaston College splits home doubleheader with Spartanburg Methodist

The top-ranked Gaston College baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Spartanburg Methodist on Friday at Gastonia's Sims Legion Park.

After suffering a 4-2 loss that ended the Rhinos' 26-game winning streak, Gaston College responded with a 10-0 victory in six innings by the mercy rule in the nightcap.

"It was a really good response," said Gaston College coach Shohn Doty, whose team improved to 36-3 overall and 13-1 in Region 10 with the win in the nightcap. "Up and down the lineup, the approach was good.
"Now we've got a lot to play for on Saturday since we can win the series and if you win every series, you're probably going to win the league which is our main goal."

The Rhinos, ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll for the first time in school history earlier this week, led 1-0 and 2-1 in the opener before the visiting Pioneers (29-7, 12-2) rallied in the late innings with one run to tie in the fifth and two runs for the lead and victory in the seventh.

"They've got a really good team," Doty said of Spartanburg Methodist. "They're 29-7 for a reason.
"I thought it was a helluva pitcher's duel. Both guys battled the entire game. But we weren't able to make a pitch in the seventh and they got the win."

Rhinos starter Mason Smith got a no decision with six innings of five-hit, two-run, five-strikeout effort.

"Mason gave us everything that he could give us," Doty said.

In the second game, left-hander Evan Vandenbosch fired a two-hitter with three strikeouts and no walks and he was supported by a nine-hit offense that erupted for runs in five of six innings before stopping the game by the 10-run with none out in the sixth.

Trent Murchison and Trevor Lucas opened the game with a triple and two-run home run, respectively, and the Rhinos were off to the races.

Murchison (4 hits, 2 doubles, triple, 1 RBI), Lucas (3 hits, home run, 2 RBIs), Sean Sullivan (2 hits, double, 3 RBIs), Seth Christmas (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Freddie Oliver (2 doubles, 1 RBI) and Andrew Muraco (2 doubles, 1 RBI) led Gaston College's offense in Friday's doubleheader.

"We did a much better job of taking advantage of scoring opportunities in the second game," Doty said. "And I can't say enough about Vandenbosch. He was tremendous today and kept people off balance."

The teams complete their four-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.