Gaston College records shutout victory to improve to 10-1

Four Gaston College pitchers combined on a four-hitter with 15 strikeouts and no walks, and the Rhinos flexed home run muscle to pull away for a 7-0 win over Caldwell Tech Wednesday at Sims Legion Park in Gastonia.

The win was the second over the Cobras in a span of seven days. The Rhinos won the first meeting 12-2 on Feb. 8 at Walker Stadium in Lenoir.

Caldwell Tech was more competitive the second time around, hanging close to the Rhinos and trailing 2-0 heading into the seventh inning.

However, Gaston College got a two-run home run to right field from Andrew Muraco in the bottom of the seventh, his second of the season against the Cobras.

In the bottom of the eighth, Freddie Oliver's two-run shot over the wall in straight away center field highlighted a three-run flurry that put Gaston College up 7-0.

It was another case of the Rhinos taking advantage when an opposing team is forced to go to its relief pitching. Gaston College collected five of its seven runs off Caldwell Tech relievers.

"We talk a lot about getting to other people's bullpens," Rhinos coach Shohn Doty said. "In our bullpen, there's not much of a drop-off, if any. In other people's pens, there is one. So, we hang around, stay patient, and know that we are going to get some pitches to hit. And we've got some power."

There was certainly no lack of effectiveness when Doty used his own pitching depth Wednesday.

Starting pitcher Derek Vartanian delivered five shutout innings with three hits allowed and eight strikeouts. Antwan Walton relieved Vartanian to start the sixth with the Rhinos up 2-0. Walton retired the side in order and struck out two batters.

David Sande came on in the seventh and retired six in a row over two innings of work. Sawyer Sutton spelled Sande in the top of the ninth, and while he yielded a one-out double by Caldwell Tech's Bo Davidson, he struck out two batters in a row to end the game and preserve the shutout.

"All four guys we used had command of two pitches," Doty said. "It was a testament to our ability to mix and match. We could throw breaking balls early in counts and fastballs late in counts. It was one guy handing it off the next guy, and then to the next guy. It was contagious, kind of like hitting."

Doty said his team's patience was critical as a tight game moved into the middle innings.

"We didn't panic in a 1-0 game," he said. "We had a couple of opportunities that we didn't take advantage of early, but we continued to play defense and pitch well, and you always have a chance to win when you do those things."

Seven of the Rhinos' 10 hits went for extra bases. Pierson Gunnell had two of the team's five doubles and drove in a run. Other top hitters were Wade Kelly (2-5), Miller St. John (2-4, RBI double), Muraco (1-4, three RBIs) and Oliver (1-3, two RBIs).

The Rhinos (10-1) open a huge three-game weekend home stand Friday with a 2 p.m. outing against Catawba Valley Community College.