No. 15 Gaston College sets school records in opening game of DH sweep

No. 15-ranked Gaston College made a record-setting statement while opening its Region 10 Division I schedule with an impressive doubleheader sweep of Florence Darlington Tech on Saturday at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

The Rhinos beat Florence Darlington Tech 28-0 and 11-3 in a pair of games shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. The opener saw Gaston College score the most runs and have its largest margin of victory in a single game in school history.

"I told (Gaston College assistant) coach Lani (Ries) that I don't think I've ever won a game like that in my life," Steuerwald said of the record-setting opener that improved his team to 28-2 overall and 2-0 in Region 10. "Our group was fired up. Obviously, our returners have that bad taste in their mouth about FloDar. And they still have the player of the year in centerfield and one of their pitchers back but they were a sophomore-heavy last year so it's not quite the same team.
"But they were 4-0 in conference coming in so we knew we were chasing them."

Florence Darlington Tech eliminated Gaston College in last year's Region 10 postseason tournament after the Rhinos had won the regular season title and received votes in National Junior College Athletic Association polls late in the season.

"Offensively, we did a great job again and we were really patient at the plate," Steuerwald said of an offense that got 23 hits and drew 15 walks and 12 hit batters in the sweep. "In Game Two, we knew they were going to try to get some momentum especially after getting beat like that. They even tied it at 2 but we responded right back.
"And the offense just kept pounding on them."

Sarah Johnson (6 hits, double, triple, 5 RBIs), Kendall Bradshaw (3 hits, home run, 6 RBIs), Skye Harrington (3 hits, double, home run, 3 RBIs), Mary Hinson (3 hits, double, triple, 4 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (2 hits, home run, 6 RBIs), Savanna Mullins (2 hits, triple, 3 RBIs) and Katelyn Brandon (home run, 3 RBIs) led the Gaston College offense.

Kristyn Ezzo (2-hitter, 5 strikeouts) and Abigail Brewton (6-hitter, 2 strikeouts) fired back-to-back complete games on the mound for the Rhinos.

Gaston College has a busy week ahead as it visits Pellissippi State, Tenn., Community College for a noon doubleheader on Monday, visit Walters State, Tenn., Community College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday, visit Louisburg for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday and visit Region 10 rival USC Sumter for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on March 16.

"Another challenging week for us," Steuerwald said. "It's a good chance to see how we're playing against some good competition."