Unbeaten Gaston College finishes strong in win at Spartanburg Methodist

The first time Gaston College visited longtime National Junior College Athletic Association baseball power Spartanburg Methodist, Gaston College needed a late rally to topple the Pioneers.

The Rhinos had to rally again to win at Spartanburg Methodist on Wednesday, but this time they took a more convincing 20-11 victory to remain unbeaten at 12-0 on the season.

Gaston College trailed 5-1 after two innings before building an 11-7 lead after 4 1-2 innings.

Then, after a four-run Pioneers fifth inning tied the score at 11, the Rhinos scored the game's last nine runs.

"The story continues to be that we've just been relentless on offense," Gaston College coach Shohn Doty said. "Today was obviously a mid-week pitching type of game and I'm sure some of our guys wish they had pitched better. But, on offense, we didn't panic. We stayed patient and kept getting good at-bats."

All nine positions in the batting order scored at least one run and reached base two or more times.

Pierson Gunnell (two hits, four RBIs, double), Trenton Snyder (two hits, four RBIs, home run, double), Konni Durschlag (two-run double), J.D. Yakubinis (three-run double), Peyton Idol (double) and Miller St. John (two-run single) led the balanced offensive attack that struck for one run in the second inning, five in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth, three in the sixth and six in the ninth.

Doty used eight pitchers, with Hayden Myrick hurling 1 1-3 innings for the win. Christian Baker and Hunter Shew also had scoreless relief efforts.

In the Rhinos' first win at Spartanburg Methodist on Feb. 6, they scored seven times in the last three innings to overcome a 5-1 deficit to take an 8-7 victory.

Gaston College returns to action with its final three games of February in a three-game series against Guilford Tech that starts with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and a noon game on Sunday. All three games will be played at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park that is the home of the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

"I told the team we have a unique opportunity this weekend as we can finish the month with an unbeaten record," said Doty, whose team is off to a 6-0 start in Region 10 Division II play. "That's a pretty special opportunity and we need to take advantage of it."