Category | Sports

Owls sweep Bucs

Published on April 8, 2008 by The Sentinel

    Behind another strong pitching performance by Justin Freeman and a
big day at the plate by Tyler Stubblefield, the Owls completed a
three-game series sweep of ETSU.  “The sweep gives us some needed
momentum and gives us some confidence going forward,” Coach Mike
Sansing said after the game on Sunday.  The Owls scored early and, by
the end of the game, were able to put the game away winning by a score
of 8-2.

    Jacob Robbins lead-off the offensive day for the Owls by hitting a lead-off single in the first.  After a walk, and sacrifice bunt by Ric Bishop, Robbins scored from third on Jay Morrow’s groundout to second.  The Owls added another run later in the first inning on Jace Whitmer’s RBI single down the left field line. 

    The Owls added three more runs in the fourth inning.  Tyler Stubblefield added on to his double in the second inning with a two RBI single up the middle.  Drew Fowlkes and then Jerome Wooly both came around to score on Stubblefield’s single after a sacrifice by Curtis Van Wyck.  “Today was the best I’ve felt at the plate all year,” said Stubblefield about his 3-for-3, 2 RBI day.  Bucky Smith knocked in the third run in the inning for the Owls via a sacrifice fly-ball to right-field.

    In the seventh, Jace Whitmer hit his second RBI single of the game and the Owls capitalized on two Buccaneer errors to add their final two runs in the eighth.  Jacob Robbins reached on the first of these errors and was able to get his 50th career stolen base.  This puts him only three behind the KSU record held by Joe Parks. 

    Justin Freeman improved his record to 3-3 on the season throwing 119 pitches through eight strong innings.  “My slider was working well for me today,” Freeman said about what he used to hold ETSU to two runs on nine hits, and record seven strikeouts.

    Freeman got out of trouble in the first and second innings after the Bucs were able to put runners on first and second.  The Buccaneers were only able to score twice, with both runs coming after Freeman’s two walks on the day.  Jacob Robbins’ defense in centerfield came up huge in the eighth inning to keep the Bucs from scoring anymore runs.  With one out and a runner on first, ETSU designated hitter Bart Roark hit a towering fly-ball to straight-away center.  Robbins made a great over the shoulder catch at the base of the wall where the 400’ mark is, ending the last threat by the Bucs.  Bubba Blalock came on in the ninth recording three ground ball outs to close out the game. 

    The Owls hope to build on their five game win streak with a game at home on Apr. 8 against Presbyterian, and then a trip to South Carolina for one game at Presbyterian and a weekend series against conference foe USC Upstate.