By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Sumter, SC---The Express baseball team dropped a doubleheader today as they continued a stretch of tough games against some of the top junior college teams in the nation.
In a pair against NJCAA D-I No. 25 USC-Sumter, the Express lost 10-4 and 5-0.
Game 1: USC-Sumter 10 Owens 4
The Express gave up three runs in each the fifth and sixth innings, and that proved to be the difference in a 10-4 loss in the first game.
Owens had just tied the game at four in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-run double from Joe Sickler that scored Clayton Ruch and Michael Louis.
USC-Sumpter took a 2-0 lead through one. The Express scored one in the second on an RBI single by James Moore Jr. to make it 2-1. Then, USC-Sumter scored one in the third to make it 3-1.
Owens came back with one in the fourth on an RBI single by Ryan Horvath before USC-Sumter scored once more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-2.
Sickler finished 1-for-4 with two RBIS, while Horvath, Moore Jr., Myles Debol and Daniel Heatherly and Ruch each tallied one hit apiece.
Garrett Scott (0-1) started for the Express and was credited with the loss. He went the first five innings and allowed eight hits, seven runs (five earned) and three walks while striking out one. Alex Juday pitched the sixth inning and allowed four hits and three runs while striking out one.
Scott Price and Zack Smith led USC-Sumter at the plate as each player finished 2-for-4, while Price had two runs and one RBI and Smith had one run and one RBI.
Alex Brooks got the win in relief for the Fireants. He relieved the starter, Tyler Fletcher, in the fifth. Brooks totaled three innings, two hits, two runs (zero earned), one walk and four strikeouts.
Game 2: USC-Sumter 5 Owens 0
A five run third inning for USC-Sumter proved to be the only scoring in a 5-0 loss for the Express.
The key blow in the third came on a grand slam by USC-Sumter's three hole hitter Zack Smith, who finished 1-for-3 with a run and four RBIs. Heath Smith and Josh Greene each tallied two additional hits.
The Express got one hit each from Nate Manis, Logan Shullick, Nick Collins, Debol and Juday.
Sean Koerber (0-1) started for the Express and took the loss. His final line included four innings, six hits, five runs (four earned), two walks and three strikeouts. Ryan Hotmer relieved him and allowed only one hit in two innings.
Tyler Broome started and got the win for USC-Sumter. He allowed only three hits and one walk in four innings.
Notes
The Express are now 0-6, but have played four games against NJCAA D-I No. 3 Louisburg, who are undefeated, and two games against USC-Sumter. They will take on USC-Sumter once again tomorrow.