Gaston College offense gets untracked in doubleheader sweep

In their final next-to-last tune-up prior to the start of Region 10 play, the Gaston College Rhinos put together their most explosive inning of the season in a doubleheader sweep of Pro5 Academy Saturday at Sims Legion Park.

Gaston College (19-2) went on a nine-run scoring spree in the second inning and rolled to a 13-3 win in seven innings.

That home-run laden victory followed a 7-3 verdict in game one over a Pro5 Academy team that boasts 23 Division I commits on its roster.

"We had been waiting on that breakout inning even though we had been close all year," Rhinos head coach Shohn Doty said. "In these two games, we swung the bats as well as have all year."

Adam Quintero, a sophomore outfielder from Monroe, led the 13-hit attack in the second game with three hits in four at-bats, a pair of home runs and four RBIs.

The second inning outburst featured home runs by Quintero, Trey Truitt and Preston Hall, along with a three-RBI double by Miller St. John.
Quintero, who homered in the first inning in a 8-2 win over Surry Community College on Wednesday, duplicated the feat in game two Saturday, and he followed with another round-tripper in the big second inning.

The Rhinos had good production throughout the lineup, with Truitt going 2-4 with four RBIs and Preston Hall (2-4, RBI) and Enrique Wood (2-4) also collecting multiple hits.

The doubleheader marked the return of Hall and Konni Durschlag to the lineup after missing multiple games with injuries. Durschlag was officially 0-2 in game one but had two RBIs.

"It was great to see Preston and Konni back in action," Doty said. "We're getting healthier, and that's a good sign for us."

On the mound, Nolan Straniero (5-1) recorded the pitching win with five innings of work that included 11 strikeouts and one hit allowed.

Alex Jankowski and Darrell Johnson pitched a scoreless inning apiece out of the bullpen. Johnson fanned three of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh.

In the opener, J.D. Everett (4-1) went five innings and got the win with relief help from Kyle McKernan and Hunter Shew. As a staff, Gaston College pitchers yielded only five walks for the doubleheader.

The Rhinos got off to a strong start in the opener on a Truitt home run in the bottom of the first inning. Quintero, Hall and Durschlag each drove in runs in a three-run third inning that gave the Rhinos a 5-0 cushion.

Gaston College plays at Region 10 Division II team Brunswick Community College on Tuesday at 2 p.m. then follows with a four-game Region 10 seasoon-opening series at USC-Sumter next Saturday and Sunday.