Gaston College hits, pitches its way to doubleheader sweep as it increases winning streak to 11 games

Gaston College beat a top pitcher and had their freshman pitcher throw another no-hitter in Friday afternoon's doubleheader sweep of Patrick & Henry Community College at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

Facing visiting Patriots' ace right-hander Morgan Strickland in the opener, the Rhinos took a big early lead and held off a late rally for 6-5 victory, then freshman Abigail Brewton threw her second no-hitter in the last seven days in a 19-0, 5-inning victroy in the nightcap.

The sweep improved Gaston College to 14-2 on the season and increased their winning streak to 11 games.

"We knew we were facing a challenge in the first game," Rhinos head coach Mike Steuerwald said of facing Strickland, who has already beaten Gaston College's Region 10 rivals USC Union and Florence Darlington Tech this season and recently threw five one-hit innings against No. 1-ranked Division II power Louisburg. "So we knew she was a really good pitcher and we're glad we got some early runs against her because we needed them all."

Back-to-back home runs by Skye Harrington and Alayna Patrick sparked a three-run second inning and Patrick slugged her second of three home runs with a two-run blast in the fifth.

The Rhinos led 3-0, 5-1 and 6-3 before the Patriots closed within 6-5 with two out in the top of the seventh and had runners on second and third base when Gaston College starter and winner Abigal Gawlinski coaxed a grounder from Patrick & Henry's cleanup hitter to close out the win.

Gawlinski pitched a seven-hitter with 11 strikeouts to improve to 6-2 on the season.

In the nightcap, the Rhinos scored six runs in the first inning, seven runs in the second inning and three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to support Brewton, who retired 15 of the 17 batters she faced with the help of a caught stealing by catcher Skye Harrington.

Brewton had pitched the school's first perfect game on Feb. 10 in a 12-0, 5-inning home win over Fayetteville Tech.

Friday's no-hitter was the third in school history as Brewton needed just 69 pitches and had 10 strikeouts. The only baserunners reached on a fielding error, a walk and a hit batter.

"We're playing well but we still have room to grow," Steuerwald said. "Our hitting has been really strong up and down the lineup."

Patrick was Friday's offensive star with four hits (three home runs and a double) and eight RBIs.

Other offensive standouts were Gabrielle Porterfield (4 hits, 3 RBIs, double), Dakota Marshall (3 hits, 3 RBIs), Harrington (2 hits, 3 RBIs, home run) and Kendall Bradshaw (2 hits, 1 RBI).

Gaston College next plays on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Wake Tech at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.