Pioneers Claim Mid-Week Sweep of Cumberland JV
By: Timothy M. Reece, Broadcaster, VolState Sports Network
Game 17 – Wednesday, 3/13/2024 (Gm 1) Volunteer State 6 - Cumberland JV 5
Volunteer State hosted the Cumberland JV squad in a mid-week DH, looking to get back into the win column after dropping three straight games to Chattanooga State at the beginning of the week. The Pioneers began quickly as the second batter in Coach Jim McGuire's lineup, Brady Knepper, Freshman 2B, and a Cumberland transfer after the Christmas break, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st. Stephen Bell, Sophomore RF, then doubled to right center field, stole 3B, and scored on a wild pitch. Conner Paul, Freshman 1B, walked and was driven home by a triple by Gage Hoover, Freshman LF. After 1 inning, Vol State led 3-0.
Freshman RHP, Caiden Trigg, got his first start and appearance of the year on the mound. In the top of the 1st, he allowed a double, a walk, and a hit batter, which loaded the bases with 2 outs. Trigg then struck out the next batter, looking, to end the inning. Trigg retired the side in order in the 2nd, picking up his 3rd and 4th strikeouts.
However, in the 3rd inning, Trigg ran into some self-inflicted trouble. After retiring the first batter on a pop out, Trigg hit and walked the next two Phoenix batters. The next batter grounded out with runners moving to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. An infield single, the only hit of the inning, scored one run and ended the afternoon for Trigg. Jack McLaury, Freshman RHP, entered, and with runners at 1st and 3rd, an errant throw to 2nd base on a steal attempt allowed the runner on 3rd to score the second run of the inning. McLaury then struck out the batter he faced to end the inning, and Vol State still led 3-2. Trigg's line was 2.2 IP, 2H, 2R (1 earned), 2W, 4K, and 2HP.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Pioneers matched Cumberland's two runs as Kanon Lewis, Sophomore DH, and Paul led off the inning with back-to-back hits to left field. A one-out walk loaded the bases, and a fielder's choice force out hit by Landon Lutterman, Sophomore 3B, drove in Lewis and moved Paul to 3B. A balk scored Paul and gave Vol State a 5-2 lead.
Cumberland JV tied the game in the 4th with 3 runs on a walk and 4 hits off McLaury, who ended the inning with his 3rd strikeout with 2 runners on base. Cooper Anderson, Freshman RHP, pitched a hitless, scoreless 5th and 6th for Vol State. Anderson's only blemish was a walk, while striking out 4 of his 6 outs. The score remained tied going to the bottom of the 6th.
Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, led off the inning with his second single of the game, stole 2B, and moved to 3B on a wild pitch. Bell lined a single to right field to drive home Molnar, giving the Pioneers a 6-5 lead. Caiden Johnson, Sophomore LHP, came into the game, in the top of the 7th, for an inning of work between weekend starts. The first two batters reached on a single and a walk. Johnson then struck out the next 3 batters, stranding 2 runners, to preserve the first collegiate win for Cooper Anderson (1-0), pick up his first collegiate save, and end the Pioneers losing streak. Vol State moved to 6-11 on the year.
Game 18 – Wednesday, 3/13/2024 (Gm 2) Volunteer State 13 - Cumberland JV 1
After a nail biter in game 1 of the DH against Cumberland JV, Vol State scored early and often to run out to a 12-1 lead after 3 innings. The Phoenix, however, held the lead 1-0 after a half inning as they scored off Kanon Lewis, Sophomore RHP/DH, who was starting his first game of the year. A hit batter, a walk, and a single to center field provided the only run that Cumberland JV would score. Lewis (1-0) finished with 2 IP, H, R, 2W, 2K, and 2HP and would gain his first collegiate victory on the mound.
At the plate, Vol State scored 3 runs in the 1st, 4 runs in the 2nd, 5 runs in the 3rd, and 1 run in the 4th to take a 13-1 lead, which allowed the Pioneers to end game 2 early due to the mercy rule after 4 ½ innings. Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, had a single and 2 RBI's and scored twice. Zach Zimmerle, Red-shirt Freshman, doubled, scored 2, and drove in 1 run. Stephen Bell, Sophomore RF, hit his 1st home run of the year in the 1st to tie the score. Walker Strange, Red-shirt Freshman, hit a bases loaded double, clearing the bases. Drew Webster, Sophomore LF, also drove in a run with a single. Corbin Overbay, Sophomore 2B, hit his 1st home run of the season, and 2nd of his career, as well as doubled and scored 3 runs.
Vol State collected two hits in each of the 4 innings they came to the plate and took advantage of 7 walks and 2 hit batters as they tied their 2nd most runs scored for the season. Carter Waltz, Freshman LHP, got his first collegiate appearance throwing a hitless, scoreless inning, walking 2 batters. Garrett Bruce, Freshman RHP, and Caden Blackford, Red-shirt Freshman RHP, each also threw 1 inning of shutout baseball, as 4 Pioneer Pitchers combined for a 2-hit, 1 run outing, giving up 4 walks and 2 hit batters, while striking out 3. Vol State moved to 7-11 on the season as they prepared to go back on the road to Harriman, TN to face Roane State in TCCAA Region 7 Conference action.