Pioneers Sweep 4 Game Home-Opening Series with Glen Oaks CC
By: Timothy M. Reece, Athletic Media Coordinator
On Friday, February 7th, Vol State (4-1) hosted the Glen Oaks CC Vikings (0-4), from Centreville, MI, for their home opening double header. Dr. Wendi Tostenson, President of Volunteer State CC, threw out the first pitch, and Faculty and Staff, along with Player's family and friends filled the stands for a chilly noon start for game 1 of the DH. Eben Hansen (SO-RHP) took the mound for his 2nd start of the season and cruised through the first 2 innings, only allowing a lead-off walk in the 2nd inning. After striking out the first batter of the 3rd inning, Hansen had to leave the game with what was hoped to be a minor injury. He finished 2.1 innings, allowing 0 hits or runs, walking one batter and striking out three. When he left the game, the Pioneers were up 1-0 due to a solo homerun by Devin Thrain (R/SO-CF) in the bottom of the 1st; his first of the year.
Carter Waltz, (SO-LHP) came on in relief for his 3rd appearance of the season. Waltz went 1.1 innings, and allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out two Vikings. In his collegiate debut, Brady Davis (FR-RHP) entered in the top of the 4th with 2 outs and 2 on, with the Pioneers leading 2-1, and induced a lineout to LF to close out the inning. Davis then retired 9 of the last 11 batters, allowing only 2 hits, while striking out 2 batters, to get his 1st win and was named the Toyota of Gallatin Player of the Game. Vol State scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th to take a 4-1 lead, which was all Davis (1-0) would need. Gage Hoover (SO-LF) collected an RBI double in the 3rd and finished 2-3 at the plate. Hudson Blank (FR-UTL) and Drew Plummer (R/SO-UTL) also picked up a hit and an RBI apiece, to match Thrain, who also walked twice. Vol State moved to 5-1 on the season with the 4-1 victory.
In the 2nd game of the DH, Head Coach Jim McGuire sent Jack McLaury (SO-RHP) to the mound for his 2nd start of the season. McLaury breezed through the 1st five Viking batters, picking up 3 K's. However, a walk, stolen base, and a single opened the scoring for Glen Oaks in the top of the 2nd. It was the first time in the young season that the Pioneers did not take the lead first in a game. After another stolen base and another single, Glen Oaks led 2-0. Vol State got out of further trouble when Thrain threw home to cut down a runner trying to score.
Vol State put up a single run in the 2nd inning and 3 more runs in the 3rd to take a 4-2 lead. Plummer took advantage of Glen Oaks pitching who walked the two batters in front of him, in back-to-back innings, by singling to LF in the 2nd and doubling to RCF in the 3rd, picking up 3 RBIs in his first 2 at bats of the game. Plummer continued his hot hitting and collected another single in the 4th inning, as the Pioneers sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring 9 runs on 5 hits, for their largest single-inning scoring output of the young season. Easton Denning (FR-1B) drove the ball into the LCF gap for a 2-run double and J.C. Menendez closed out the scoring in the inning with the first Pioneer Grand Slam of the year, and his first career home run.
McLaury entered the top of the 5th with a 13-2 lead attempting to close out the Mercy rule victory. However, after giving up an infield single, a hit batter, and a one-out, 2-run single to RF, McLaury was replaced by Caden Blackford (R/SO-RHP), who came on for his 3rd appearance of the year and struck out both batters he faced to finish the 5th. The Pioneers needed 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning to finish the game, and afternoon, early. After a strike out, Scotty Dean (SO-C) reached on an error. It was the 4th time he had reached in the game, having drawn two walks and been hit by pitch. Plummer stepped to the plate and completed his career game with a walk-off, 2-run home run, to send Pioneer fans home happy. Plummer ended the game going 4-4, with a double and a home run, scoring twice, and driving in 5 runs and was named the Toyota of Gallatin Player of the Game. The Pioneers (6-1) won 15-4, which made Jack McLaury 2-0 in his first 2 starts. Denning also finished with a double and 3 RBI's.
Day 2 of the series against Glen Oaks CC started similarly to the beginning of game 2 of Day 1, with the Vikings getting on the board first. The Vikings started strong against Parker White (R/SO-LHP) collecting three hits in the first four batters of the game. Thanks to a runner caught stealing, a 2-out homerun resulted in only 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning for Glen Oaks. However, that lead did not last long for as Vol State scored 3 runs in the 2nd and 2 more runs in the 3rd, to take a 5-2 lead. Hoover led off with a double in the 2nd inning, and Dean hit his first dinger of the year over the RCF wall to tie the game 2-2. Reed Muschinsky (R/SO-RF) then doubled down the RF line and was driven home by Blank with a 2-out single to CF., giving the Pioneers a 3-2 lead. In the 3rd inning, Vol State relied on the long ball again, as Denning drove one out to deep RF for his first collegiate home run, scoring Thrain, who had walked ahead of Denning. Vol State led 5-2 after 3 innings.
White pitched out of trouble in the 2nd and 3rd innings, however, could not escape the 4th when he left with bases loaded and one out. Drew Morehead (FR-RHP) came on in relief and gave up a 2-run single, which tightened the score to 5-4, but then retired the next two batters to get out of further trouble. The Pioneers scored a single run in the bottom of the 4th inning on a double by Tucker Lorenz (FR-SS), a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout by Blank.
With his team leading 6-4, Morehead threw a scoreless 5th and 6th innings, allowing his offense to add three more runs in the bottom of the 6th, to take a 9-4 advantage. Lorenz doubled for the 2nd time in the contest and later scored on a passed ball. Denning doubled to LCF, which scored Plummer and Thrain, who had each walked. Denning finished with 4 RBI's and was named the Toyota of Gallatin Player of the Game. Dean and Blank had 2 RBIs each.
Morehead went out to finish the 7th inning, and, as it turned out, ran into a spot of bad luck. The lead off batter for the Vikings reached first base on a passed ball after swinging at strike three. Morehead went on to conventionally strikeout the next two batters. He then plunked and walked the next two to load the bases. Two Pioneer pitchers later, after three runs had scored, Brody Prairie (FR-LHP/OF) retired the only batter he faced to pick up his 1st collegiate save. The Pioneers (7-1) held on for the 9-7 victory, making a winner of Morehead (2-0) for the 2nd time in the week.
In game 2 of the Saturday double header, the Pioneers were going for the 4-game sweep of Glen Oaks CC. Chip Harris (SO-RHP) got the start on the mound and did not disappoint, scattering 3 hits, 2 walks, and a hit batter, not allowing any runs in 4 full innings on his way to being named the Toyota of Gallatin Player of the Game. Vol State scored two runs in the 2nd inning and one in the 6th to take a 3-0 lead into the 7th inning. The Vikings scored a single run in the top of the 7th, without aid of a hit. Four walks, in five batters, accounted for the only tally. A game ending DoDat Communications Double Play ended the game and gave the Pioneers (8-1) the 3-1 win.
Vol State collected five hits in the contest including a triple by Denning, the 4th extra base hit of his weekend; a double by Dean; and RBI singles by Plummer, AJ Armstong (FR-3B), and Menendez. R.J. Moore (R/SO-RHP) and Max Cassle (SO-RHP) pitched the 5th, 6th, and into the 7th inning before giving way to Prairie, who came on for the second time of the day and ultimately induced the game ending double play to pick up his 2nd save in two games.
Drew Morehead finished the first full week of the season with 2 wins in 2 appearances on the mound; one start and one in relief. He threw 6.1 innings, giving up 5 hits, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, one hit batter, and striking out 11 on his way to being named TCCAA Pitcher-of-the-Week! Easton Denning, Gage Hoover, and Drew Plummer also had impressive numbers at the plate for the Pioneers. Denning batted .412 with 7 hits, including 3 doubles, a triple, and a homerun, while driving in 8 runs in the 6 games. Hoover also played in all 6 games and averaged .467, with 7 hits, including 4 doubles, 5 RBIs, and reached base 12 times in 21 total at-bats, including 5 walks. Plummer collected 6 hits including a double and a homerun, and drove in 7 runs for Vol State, playing in 5 of the 6 contests.
The Pioneers went 5-1 for the week and are 4-0 during home games, all of which were attended by Vol State President, Dr. Tostenson, and the First Family (husband Kyle and youngest son, Lucas)!
The next scheduled games are Friday, February 14th, when Vol State begins TCCAA action against Chattanooga State at the Tim Garrett Baseball Complex in Gallatin, TN. Due to impending weather, the series will begin on Friday with two 7 inning contests, starting at noon (CST). If possible, game 3 of the series will be played on Saturday, with a start time TBD. All games will be carried on the VolState Sports Network YouTube channel.