AUGUSTA, Ga. - Paine College split Saturday's double-header with Bluefield State College at Lions Field. The Lions fell in the first game 6-5 after allowing the Big Blue's to come back from a 4-2 deficit late in the game.
Evan Krenz pitched a seven inning complete game to lead PC to a 6-2 victory in the second game.
Paine improved to 4-9 on the season while BSC is now 4-7 going into the series finally tomorrow afternoon.
In the opener, Zack Radar held his own and took a 4-2 lead into the top of the fifth before Bluefield State took advantage of a hit, a wild pitch and a key error by the Lions to take the lead 5-4.
The Lions responded in the bottom of the inning when Jahziel Morel hit a sacrifice fly plating
Ricky Carvajal who doubled to deep left field leading off the inning tying the game at 5-5.
The Big Blues would retake the lead in the top of the sixth inning, manufacturing a run on a single to left field by Justin Bowler, a sacrifice bunt by Chaz Rutherford and a sacrifice fly by Drew D'Angelo making the score 6-5. Addison Meeks held Paine at bay in the final inning for the save.
Radar (0-4) picked for the Lions pitching six innings, allowing nine hits, six runs (four earned), while striking out four and walking two.
Hardvis Batista pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
Carvajal led PC going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Bo Williams (2-1) got the victory tossing five innings, allowing five hits, while striking out two. Meeks pitched two scoreless innings of one hit ball.
Peyton Durham, Chase Chambers, and Chaz Rutherford each had two hits for BSC.
In game two, Paine College used a two-out, two RBI triple by
Brad Doebler that drove in
Jaron Johnson who singled and
Gabriel Guzman who walked. Doebler would score on a Bluefield State error by Cole Blocker and
Keenan Robinson would give the Lions an early 4-0 victory scoring on a wild pitch after walking eariler in the inning.
The Big Blues would add single runs in the fourth and seventh innings while PC would add to the scoring with single runs in the fifth and sixth inning for the 6-2 victory.
Krenz (3-2) pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs (one earned), and struck out six.
Doebler led Paine at the plate going 1-for-3, with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
Tanner Muovich (0-3) tossed five innings, allowing five hits, struck-out one but walked five. Brandon Chandler pitched one inning in relief, giving up one run while walking two.
Justin Bowler led BSC going 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Both teams return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Lion's Field.
