Gaston College impressive in doubleheader sweep in 2022 home debut

Gaston College's 2022 baseball home opener couldn't have gone better as the Rhinos swept a doubleheader over Surry Community College by scores of 8-0 and 10-0 at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

After University of South Carolina signee Zach Zedalis struck out 12 and threw 4 1-3 no-hit innings in the opener, Rhinos' starter and winner Tyler Parks wriggled out of a first-inning jam before striking out seven in the nightcap that ended by the 10-run mercy rule in five innings.

"Pitching was the story of the day," said Gaston College coach Shohn Doty, whose has guided the school's first team in 50 years to a 3-0 start. "It's excited to be able to play here at the (Atlantic League of Professional Baseball) Honey Hunters stadium and anytime you win both games of a doubleheader it's a good day."

The Rhinos' offense was led by Wade Kelly (two hits and two runs in each game), Konni Durschlag (four RBIs, double, triple, three runs in two games) and Chandler Riley (two hits and three runs in two games). Gaston College had seven hits in each game.

Zedalis went five innings and retired 10 batters in a row during one stretch. And Parks got two strikeouts and a fly out to escape a bases-loaded with none out jam in the top of the first.

The Rhinos built on the momentum of Parks' pitching to score six in the bottom of the first.

"That was huge for us," Doty said. "That really changed the momentum of the game."

Gaston College plays at perennial power Spartanburg Methodist on Sunday at 1 p.m.