The Basics
Game 1
Score: Roanoke 5 | William Peace 7
Records: Maroons 3-3 | Pacers 8-1
Location: Salem, Va..
The Lead: After splitting a double header with William Peace in North Carolina on February 21, the Roanoke College baseball team welcomed the Pacers to Salem for a pair of seven inning games on Saturday. A four-run fourth inning would carry the Pacers to a 7-5 win in game one. In the second game, the Maroons would score in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and held on for the one-run win to once again split with William Peace.
How it Happened:
- After giving up a second inning run, Roanoke would tie it up in the bottom half before taking a 2-1 advantage in the third.
- Four runs in the top of the fourth and two more in the fifth allowed William Peace to pull away.
- Roanoke added a three-spot in the bottom of the inning. Will Merriken singled and advanced to third on a PK Cocolis double to left. Cale Agee scored Merriken on a double, putting runners at second and third. Hunter Andrews plated Cocolis and then a Pacers error allowed Agee to score.
- However, Derek Roy came in for the seventh and recorded a 1-2-3 save.
- Cocolis was 2-2 with a run while Merriken and Will Smith each went 2-4.
The Basics
Game 2
Score: Roanoke 6 | William Peace 5
Records: Maroons 4-3 | Pacers 8-2
Location: Salem, Va.
How it Happened:
- Merriken belted a HR to left to give RC a first inning lead in game two.
- The Pacers tied it in the top of the second before Smith plated Mason Staz with an infield single.
- Another big inning for WPU in the fourth as the visitors would take a 4-2 lead.
- Carson McCusker doubled to right to score Gavin Kandrick and then a Merrikan sacrifice fly would tie the score at 4-4. Carter Plunkett tripled and an Agee liner to center would put the Maroons back in front.
- Austin Bansek came out of the pen to pitch a perfect sixth, striking out three. Bansek would start the seventh before giving way to Caleb Lingenfelter. The Pacers would load the bases but a strike out and ground out would end the game and give the Maroons the split.
- Staz went 2-3 win a pair of runs scored while Merriken was 1-2 with two RBI and a HR. The Roanoke bullpen went three and 1/3 innings, giving up three hits, a run, and seven strikeouts.
Up Next: Roanoke will begin Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on Saturday when they play host to Lynchburg for a double header at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.
