SMC President Scott Cochran (center) throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to SMC’s baseball doubleheader against Johnson. Photo by Danny Kambel, SMC Sports Communications.
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After a ceremonial first-pitch strike by Spartanburg Methodist College president Scott Cochran, the host Pioneers dropped a doubleheader to Johnson University (Tenn.), 13-5 and 18-7, on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers (6-8, 1-4 AAC) surrendered 13 hits in game one and 14 in game two.
Game one saw SMC Ty Harper turn in one of the best performances of his young career, recording four hits to lead a 14-hit Pioneer attack. Four teammates also had multiple hits in the loss — Blake Exizian had three, while Dario Astudillo, Tanner Martin and Elijah Fran added two apiece.
SMC rallied from an early 1-0 deficit, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Two of the three runs came on a two-RBI single by Martin. Johnson responded with nine unanswered runs, including six in the top of the second, on its way to the series-opening win.
Johnson (15-1, 7-0 AAC) was led by a three-hit game from leadoff batter Luke Wilson and three RBIs each from Travis Hobbensiefken and Matt Newton. Starting pitcher Colby Reynolds improved to 4-0, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs while striking out seven for the Royals. Reynolds threw 65 strikes on 90 pitches over 6.1 innings.
Game two saw Johnson pick up where it left off, building an 8-0 lead. The Royals scored four runs on three hits in the top of the first to seize early control. Shortstop Christian Altamirano led Johnson with three hits and five RBIs.
SMC finished with 10 hits in the second game, with Martin again leading the way with two. Thatcher Baughman came off the bench to drive in three runs.
Trailing 8-0, SMC got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single through the right side by Lane Schrader. The Royals answered with seven runs in the fifth to break the game open. SMC added a run in the sixth and plated five in the seventh. During the five-run seventh, Baughman cleared the bases with a three-RBI double.
The two teams will wrap up the weekend series with a single game at 1 p.m. at Mooneyham Field.
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