FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Panthers Open Season at 6-1 FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Ferrum College narrowly missed taking all three games in a big USA South Athletic Conference baseball series over the weekend, upping its record to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Panthers opened Saturday with a 15-9 win over Methodist, then led 7-1 after six innings in the second game before darkness halted play. When the game resumed Sunday, the panthers closed out with an 8-1 win to grab the first two games. In the third and final game of the series, Ferrum led 7-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, only to see the Monarchs tie the score win 8-7 in 10 innings. Game 1 Box Score: Ferrum 15, Methodist 9 Game 2 Box Score: Ferrum 8, Methodist 1 Game 3 Box Score: Methodist 8, Ferrum 7 (10 innings) In the first game, freshman Alex Stover (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) went 2-3 with two home runs and five RBI. Senior John Sain (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) went 3-6 with a double., three RBI and two runs. Sophomore Joshua Tuck (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) went 3-6 with two runs and an RBI. Junior Ryan Cooper (Stuarts Draft, Va./Stuarts Draft) was credited with the win, pitching seven innings with eight strikeouts and one walk, and allowed five hits. In the second game, junior Brent Sowers (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) went 3-5 with two RBI and a run to lead Ferrum. Junior Brett Thomas (Danville, Va./George Washington) went 2-5 with a double, an RBI and a run. Tuck also had a pair of base hits, going 2-4 with an RBI and two runs. Senior Jesse Bowles (Boones Mill, Va./Franklin County) got the win. He pitched six innings, allowed seven hits while striking out five and walking two. In the third game, Sowers and Sain each had a pair of base hits for the Panthers. Sowers went 2-5 with two runs and Sain went 2-5 with a run and an RBI. In five games this week, in which Ferrum went 4-1, Thomas batted .348. In 23 at-bats, he had eight hits including three doubles, a triple and a homer. Thomas had 10 RBI, scored seven runs, was successful on his only stolen base attempt and registered an impressive .696 slugging percentage. Ferrum is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the USA South. Methodist is now 5-3 overall, 1-2 in league play. Ferrum and Methodist were picked to finish #1 and #2, respectively, this season in the USA South preseason coaches poll. The Panthers were ranked #9 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper 2006 preseason poll. # # # |
