Vol State Splits First Conference Series with Motlow State
By: Timothy M. Reece, Broadcaster, VolState Sports Network
Game 12 – Saturday, 3/2/2024 Motlow State 9 - Volunteer State 1
Volunteer State travelled to Tullahoma, TN to take on the Motlow State Bucks in the first Conference game of the year for both teams. Caleb Pica, Sophomore LHP, got his 5th start of the year and retired the first 6 batters he faced. The 3rd inning, however, unraveled quickly as 5 of the first 6 batters reached on an error, three walks, and a bunt single. The 2nd and 3rd walks, with bases loaded, gave Motlow a 2-0 lead. The 2nd strikeout of the inning had Pioneers fans hoping the damage would be limited. It was not to be as the next two Bucks each knocked in 2 runners with doubles to the left centerfield gap. Motlow State led 6-0 after 3 innings.
Meanwhile, the Starting Pitcher for Motlow State, Caden Alvey, set down the first 18 batters he faced. The Bucks bats got hot again in their half of the 6th when they collected 4 hits and 3 runs off reliever Noah Eatman, Sophomore RHP, to take a 9-0 lead.
In the 7th, Vol State finally broke through on Alvey with a lead-off walk and an infield single by Zach Zimmerle, Red-shirt Freshman OF, however could not plate a run until the 8th inning. Reggie Cooper, Sophomore OF, reached on another infield single. A groundout and a stolen base moved Cooper to 3rd base with one out. Another groundout by Brody Melton, Sophomore 1B, scored Cooper to negate the shutout. Vol State (4-8, 0-1) fell 9-1 in the 9-inning contest.
Pica (0-3) took the loss going 3.2 innings, giving up 3 hits, 6 runs (only 1 was earned), walking 5, and striking out 6.
Game 13 – Sunday, 3/3/2024 Volunteer State 14 - Motlow State 10
In game 2 of the series, the Volunteer State bats came alive, but not before Motlow State took an early 3-0 lead in the 1st inning on two walks, two singles, and a homerun by Kaleb Gupton off Starting Pitcher Caiden Johnson, Red-shirt Sophomore LHP. The Pioneers put 2 on the board in the 2nd inning with a 2B by Stephen Bell, Sophomore OF, and a homerun of their own by Kanon Lewis, Red-shirt Sophomore DH. Lewis then tied the game in the top of the 3rd with his second big fly giving him 3 RBI's in 2 at bats.
Each team scored single runs in the next half innings and the score was tied at 4 until the top of the 5th when the Pioneers scored 3 runs to take a 7-4 lead. A single by Bell, back-to-back walks to Lewis and Reggie Cooper, Sophomore OF, a sacrifice fly by Brady Knepper, Freshman IF, and a 2 run double by Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, gave Vol State the lead.
After giving up 2 runs in the 6th, the Pioneers put 3 more on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th. A solo homerun by Cooper, his 2nd of the year, and a 2-run shot by Molnar, his 1st of the year and 3rd hit of the game, gave Vol State a 10-6 lead going into the final frame. However, Motlow State did not give up easily as they put together 4 hits and 4 runs to send the game into extra innings.
In the 8th, the Pioneers started the inning with a triple by Bell, his 3rd hit of the game. A single by Lewis, also his 3rd hit of the game, drove Bell home. It was Lewis' 4th RBI of the game and it gave Vol State an 11-10 lead. The Pioneers scored 3 more runs without benefit of a hit as two Bucks Pitchers hit and walked a batter each. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Molnar, his 5th RBI of the game, and an error and a wild pitch allowed Vol State to take a 14-10 lead.
Jack McLaury, Freshman RHP, had come into the game in the bottom of the 7th with the potential winning run standing on 2nd base. He only faced one batter, inducing a flyout. McLaury was still in the game in the bottom of the 8th looking strong as he retired the first two batters he faced. Again, Motlow State refused to go quietly as the next two batters walked and their lead-off batter singled, which loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate. McLaury (1-0) struck out John Hale, who had hit a 3-run homerun in the 7th, to end the game and give Vol State (5-8, 1-1) their first conference win of the year and give McLaury his 1st collegiate win on the mound.
Due to the length of game one of the scheduled doubleheaders (almost 3 ½ hours), game 2 was started a little before 4 pm. However, each team scored 6 runs in the first 4 innings of play and the decision was made to discontinue play due to darkness, as Motlow State's field does not have lights. The halted game will not be made up and no statistics were recorded from that game.