Pioneers Split Mid-Week Games With Calhoun
By: Timothy M. Reece, Broadcaster, VolState Sports Network
Game 7 – Tuesday, 2/20/2024 (Gm 1) Volunteer State 13 - Calhoun CC 11
With 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, and a clean 7th inning on the mound for Caleb Pica, Sophomore LHP, Volunteer State (3-4) came from behind to defeat the Calhoun Warhawks (3-5), 13 – 11 in game 1 of a doubleheader. It was Vol State's 3rd consecutive win.
The Pioneers tied the game 5-5 with 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, after Calhoun scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings off starter Chip Harris, Freshman RHP, in his collegiate debut. Two first inning runs were aided by a couple of walks and a two-out, infield double from a pop-up that was lost in the sun.
Back-to-back singles by Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, and Zach Zimmerle, Red-shirt Freshman OF, a couple of Calhoun errors and three more singles by Brody Melton, Sophomore 3B, Connor Paul, Freshman 1B, and Landon Lutterman, Sophomore Catcher, got Vol State back into the game.
The Warhawks promptly scored 4 runs in the next half inning to re-take the lead, 9-5, but the Pioneers got 3 runs back in the bottom of the 4th. Molnar was hit with a pitch to lead off the inning. Zimmerle doubled, Stephen Bell, Sophomore RF, singled in Molnar, and Melton walked. Paul collected his 2nd hit of the game and drove in 2 more runs and Lutterman drove Paul in with a single. Paul finished 3-4 with 2 runs scored and 5 RBI's. Zimmerle was 2-5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Lutterman went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
A 2-run 6th inning put Calhoun up 11-8 and set the stage for Vol State's second 5 run inning of the game. Singles by Paul and Lutterman, and a 2-run double to the right centerfield gap by Gage Hoover, Freshman OF, tied the score 8-8 and left runners on 2nd & 3rd with no outs. A groundout by Brady Knepper, Red-shirt Freshman IF, was the eventual GWRBI and a sacrifice fly by Drew Plummer, Red-shirt Freshman IF, provided the final margin.
Max Cassle, Freshman RHP, the 3rd pitcher of the game for Vol State, got his 1st collegiate Win throwing 1.1 innings. After the Pioneers claimed the lead, Pica worked a flawless 7th inning to get his 1st collegiate Save.
Game 8 – Tuesday, 2/20/2024 (Gm 2) Calhoun CC 18 - Volunteer State 7 (5)
Game 2 of the doubleheader saw the Calhoun Warhawks (4-5) score in all 5 innings, including a 6-run 3rd inning and a 7th run 5th inning and defeat Volunteer State (3-5), 18-7, and end the Pioneers 3-game winning streak. Calhoun collected 14 hits, off six Vol State Pitchers, including 3 hits each by Timothy Simay (2 homeruns and a single), Mason Billions (all singles), and Tyler Zawacki (1B, 2B, & 3B). T. Simay and Max Morrison had 3 RBI's each and Zawacki had 4 RBI's.
Nine of the 18 runs scored by Calhoun reached base via a walk or hit-by-pitch. Vol State Pitchers walked 10 and hit 2 Warhawk batters. Starter Noah Eatman, Sophomore, RHP, (0-1) suffered the Loss.
In the bottom of the 4th, Vol State was down 11-0 before tallying their first run. Thedrick Harris, Jr., Red-shirt Freshman DH, doubled for his 1st collegiate hit, then crossed home when Christian Dunn, Sophomore OF, hit his 1st homerun as a Pioneer.
After Calhoun scored 7 runs in the top of the 5th to take an 18-2 lead, Vol State rallied, in an attempt, to prolong the game past the 10-run mercy rule. The inning started with back-to-back doubles by Lex Falsone, Freshman Catcher, and Brady Knepper, Red-shirt Freshman IF. Walks to three of the next four batters, a wild pitch, and an error sandwiched in-between produced 3 Pioneer runs. Two more RBI's by Christian Dunn on a 2-out double to left centerfield made the score 18-7. However, Vol State could not continue the rally and the game ended early after 5 innings. Dunn was 2-2 with a 2B, a Homerun, and 4 RBI's.