Big Innings Propel Greensboro College Baseball To Season Opening Victory Over Guilford

Big Innings Propel Baseball To Season Opening Victory Over Guilford
Courtesy of GC SID Wes Gullett

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Hunter Curtis tallied five hits as the Greensboro College baseball team opened their 2018 season with a 17-9 victory over crosstown rival Guilford College Friday.

After both teams failed to score in the first inning, Greensboro quickly opened up a five-run gap with a five-run second inning.

Curtis led off the inning with a single before coming to score the game’s first run after the Quakers committed an error off the bat of Lincoln Hewett.

Later in the inning, Hewett and Scotty McGuire came in to score on another Guilford error before Jimmy Short recorded an RBI single to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Pride.

Greensboro would get one final run in the inning after Derek Jaar laced a sacrifice fly to left field to extend the advantage to five runs, but the Quakers were able to get a run of their own in the bottom half to send the game into the third inning with Greensboro holding on to a four-lead.

In the third, Tyler Price flew out to right field to begin the inning before Curtis singled once again before advancing to second on a Hewett walk. McGuire was then able to lace a single into center field to load the bases from Brady Dignan.

Following the McGuire single, Curtis came across the plate on a wild pitch before Dignan recorded an RBI groundout to the short stop, scoring Hewett from third base.

After retiring the Quakers in the bottom half, the Pride offense exploded for seven runs in the visiting half of the fourth inning to push their lead to 14-1. Jarr, Curtis, Dignan and Short each recorded one RBI in the inning.

Despite holding on to the 13-run advantage, Greensboro found themselves trying to hold on to the lead as the Quakers pulled to within 16-8 after outscoring the Pride 7-2 over the next 1 innings.

Guilford would get one final run in the eighth inning to pull within seven runs, but the Pride tallied the game’s final run in the ninth inning to secure the eight-run victory after McGuire plated Price from third base with a single up the middle.

“It is always nice to start out the year on a good note,” Head Coach Frank Maldonado said. “The boys played with energy, competed and stayed together as a team.

“It is early in the season so there is a lot we need to improve on fundamentally and mentally. We are looking forward to getting back on the field to address those areas.”

McGuire finished with three hits, while Short and Price had two hits. Piero Amador got the start on the mound and struck out four batters over three innings, while only giving up one run. Will Hicks tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief. Tyler Garam pitched the final 3 1/3 innings and was awarded the victory.

The Pride will return to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday when they host the Wasps of Emory & Henry College. For more information on Greensboro College baseball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.