Gaston College takes doubleheader sweep at nationally-ranked Caldwell Tech

Gaston College executed its game plan both offensively and in the pitching circle Wednesday in pulling off a doubleheader sweep of Caldwell Tech at Hudson Optimist Park.

The Rhinos banged out 13 hits in a 9-3 game one victory against Caldwell Tech ace Isabelle Curry, who carried a 13-4 record and 2.71 ERA into the pitching start.

In the second game, Gaston College went on a seven-run scoring spree in the fourth inning to win 12-1 in five innings.

In both contests, the Rhinos spread the offensive punch throughout the lineup, even getting a pinch-hit RBI double from Phoebe Cole in the opener. Eight Gaston College batters hit safely in each game.

"Caldwell is a well-coached team and their No. 1 (Curry) does a great job of throwing," Rhinos coach Michael Steuerwald said of the Cobras, who won the Region 10 Division III title a year ago and were 25-17 and ranked No. 3 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll going into Wednesday's twinbill.
"But we did a great job of staying with our game plan and getting good pitches to swing at. Even early when we didn't hit the ball hard or find gaps, we were still sticking to our game plan, which was huge."

Second baseman Alayna Patrick led the GC offense with six hits in eight at-bats for the doubleheader, three RBIs and two runs scored. She also delivered on defense.

"Alayna had a great day," Steuerwald said of the freshman out of Kings Mountain High School. "She made three or four great defensive plays in game one, which really set the tone and kept the game scoreless early until we could get going offensively."

The Rhinos generated five extra-base hits in the opener and four in the second game, capped off by Grace Kealy's solo home run into the trees above right field in the top of the fifth.

In the pitching department, Abigail Gawlinski got a complete game win in the opener, scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking none. Freshman Abigail Brewton fashioned a two-hitter in the second game with 11 strikeouts and no bases on balls.

Others with multiple hits in the opener were Kealy (2-4, two runs, RBI), Emma Ghorley (2-4, RBI) and Logan Lilly (2-3, one run).

In the 12-1 victory, Skye Harrington and Laila Manning bounced two-RBI doubles off the left-field fence to highlight the fourth inning flurry. Gabrielle Porterfield went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Now 45-7 overall and 12-2 in Division I of Region 10, the Rhinos close the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader at USC-Sumter. Not only can Gaston College clinch the regular season Region 10 title, they will play on the same field that hosts the Region 10 championship May 2 through 5.

"We would like to go and play really good softball for two games," Steuerwald said. "And it's a good opportunity to jump on the field where we will be playing the Region 10 tournament, to get out there and get a feel for things."