Ferrum Release 3-7-04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

March 7, 2004

Ferrum Earns USA South Baseball Sweep
Panthers Win 12-3, 9-2, 14-7 at Shenandoah

Winchester, Va. -- The Ferrum College baseball team picked up a 14-7 win over Shenandoah University to cap a three-game sweep in USA South baseball action this afternoon on the road. The Panthers also defeated Shenandoah 12-3 and 9-2 yesterday.

Sophomore Jesse Bowles (Boones Mill, Va./Franklin County) scattered seven hits over five innings of relief, striking out six and walking two. Starter Todd Meadows (South Boston, Va./Halifax Co.) gave up nine hits over four innings, struck out five and walked none.

Senior DH Thomas Meeks (Rocky Mount, Va./Franklin County) and senior Kevin Griffin (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) had two home runs each. Meeks went 2-4 with five RBI. Meeks homered in the first and second innings, while Griffin homered in the first and fourth. Freshman Ryan Cooper (Stuarts Draft, Va./Stuarts Draft) had a two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.

In yesterday's 9-2 win, freshman pitcher Curtis Taylor (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) held the Hornet offense at bay, striking out 17 batters en route to the win. Taylor, pictured above, allowed six hits and one earned run while walking just three in 7.1 innings of work as he improved to 4-0 on the mound. Meeks and senior right fielder Brandon Hale (Coeburn, Va./Coeburn ) each homered for Ferrum. In yesterday's 12-3 win, senior outfielder Ricky Peace (Hopewell, VA./Hopewell) went 3-5 with a double, scored three runs and drove in another. Senior Carlos Sanchez (Stanleytown, Va./Bassett) pitched all seven innings to earn the win. Sanchez scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out nine to run his record to 3-0.

Ferrum improves to 10-4 overall and 5-1 in the USA South. Shenandoah fell to 4-8, 1-5 USA South. The Panthers are scheduled to be back in action Tuesday, March 9, at home when they face Piedmont College at 3 p.m. Coach Abe Naff's team will then play at Bridgewater College Wednesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. Both are non-conference games. For more information, please contact the Ferrum College Sports Information Office at (540) 365-4306.


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