Second Mid-Week Sweep of Cumberland JV
By: Timothy M. Reece, Broadcaster, VolState Sports Network
Game 27 – Wednesday, 3/27/2024 (Gm 1) Volunteer State 9 - Cumberland JV 1
Volunteer State got back into the win column with a 9-1 victory over the Cumberland JV squad at Woody Hunt Stadium in Lebanon, TN. The Pioneers scored in five of the seven innings and got out to 3-1 lead after the 2nd inning. Vol State scored 3 more in the 4th inning, 2 in the 6th, and a lone run in the 7th.
Lex Falsone, Freshman Catcher, collected 2 singles, 3 runs scored, and a walk in 3 plate appearances. Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, had a H, R, W, 2 SB and an RBI. Conner Paul, Freshman 1B, had a H, R, W, and 2 RBI's. Zach Zimmerle, Red-shirt Freshman LF, Stephen Bell, Sophomore RF, Reggie Cooper, Sophomore CF, and Brady Knepper, Freshman 2B, each had a hit, a stolen base, and scored a run.
Chip Harris (2-1), Freshman RHP, got the win in his 4th start of the year, going 6 innings, giving up 4 hits, 1 run (unearned), and 6 strikeouts. Noah Ward, Sophomore RHP, pitched a perfect 7th inning, retiring all 3 batters he faced.
Pioneer Pitchers did not walk or hit a batter for the first time all year. There has only been one game, by Vol State Pitchers, of one walk without a hit batter. That game occurred back on February 24th when Caleb Pica, Sophomore LHP, took a 4-1 loss against Indian Hills (Iowa) CC. Pica threw a 6 inning, complete game with 4 H, 4 R (1 earned), W, 9 K.
With the win, the Pioneers moved to 10-17 on the year.
Game 27 – Wednesday, 3/27/2024 (Gm 2) Volunteer State 12 - Cumberland JV 4
In game 2 of the DH, Volunteer State sent 5 Pitchers to the mound in the 7-inning contest. Noah Eatman, Sophomore RHP, got the start and got touched up for 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk in his 1 inning of work. Brett Dowling, Sophomore RHP, faced the minimum, striking out 2. Cooper Anderson, Freshman RHP, pitched the 3rd and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, one of which was a homerun. The score was tied 4-4 after 3 innings, but those were the last runs the Cumberland JV would score.
Jack McLaury (2-0), Freshman RHP, went the next 3 innings and did not give up a hit or a run, only allowing one walk, while striking out 3. Kanon Lewis, Sophomore RHP, got the last three outs, giving up one walk.
Vol State hitters stroked 10 hits, including a 2B and a 3B, driving in 10 of the 12 runs scored. They were also 7 of 8 in stolen bases and only struck out twice in the 12-4 win over the Phoenix.
Stephen Bell, Sophomore RF, and Cam Hodges, Red-shirt OF, collected 3 hits each. Bell had two singles, a triple, a walk, a stolen base, 3 runs scored, and 5 RBI's. Hodges had his best collegiate game at the plate, going 3-4, including a walk, 2 stolen bases, and 3 RBI's. Logan Molnar, Sophomore SS, collected 2 hits, 2 walks, and scored 4 times. Conner Paul, Freshman 1B, was 1-4 with 2 RBI's, to take the team RBI lead with 15.
Vol State (11-17) swept their 3rd straight mid-week series and look to continue that momentum into the home conference series against Dyersburg State on Friday, March 29th.