ATLANTA, Ga. - A strong offensive output by the Panthers sweeping the doubleheader against Oglethorpe today (April 15). BSC hit a total of 10 home runs over the two games and scored 32 runs en route to two victories.
Game one
Birmingham-Southern scored in all but one inning in the game, which included a 10-run sixth inning that brought the run rule into play. BSC got on the board first after
Noah Best hit a sac fly to bring in
Cole Steadman for the first run of the game. After a quiet first inning by the Stormy Petrels, BSC went back to work on offensive. In the second inning they scratched two runs across. An
Andrew Dutton single and a
Cole Steadman double brought in the two runs.
Oglethorpe got one of those runs back in the bottom of the second inning, but BSC again responded. Birmingham-Southern scored at least one run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to extend their lead. In the fifth inning the Panthers were leading 7-1. In the bottom of the fifth Oglethorpe scored five runs on just two hits. Three walks helped the Stormy Petrels generate the runs. With the lead now 7-6, the Panthers went back to work on offense.
In the top of the sixth inning BSC exploded for 10 runs in the inning. Nine hits and an Oglethorpe error helped the Panthers in the inning. Four of the nine hits were for extra-bases. BSC did not allow Oglethorpe to plate another run and won the game in seven innings with the 10-run mercy rule coming into affect.
Pitching decisions
WIN:
Josh Leerssen (3-1)
LOSS: Colby James (1-3)
Game two
The Panthers picked up right where they left off in game one. After a scoreless first inning BSC plated seven runs on five hits in the second inning. The Panthers hit two home runs in the inning, the first off the bat of
Alfredo Granier, his first of the season. The next came off the bat of
Noah Best on a 3-2 count. BSC added two more runs in the third inning and took a 9-0 lead following their half of the inning.
Oglethorpe got those two runs back in the bottom of the inning but that would be all the runs they got for the remainder of the game. BSC extended their lead in the fifth after two solo home runs in the inning.
Jack Fleming and Cam McNearney went back-to-back to bring the Panther lead to 11-2.
In the seventh Birmingham-Southern added four runs on just one hit. Two hit batters and two walks helped the Panthers bring home the runs. BSC defeated Oglethorpe 15-2. The Panthers finished the day with 17 extra-base hits, 33 runs scored, and 10 home runs.
Pitching decisions
WIN:
Ricky Harrison (4-3)
LOSS: Noah Cole (1-4)
Records
#4 Birmingham-Southern 26-7 Overall (14-3 SAA), Oglethorpe 16-17 Overall (9-8 SAA)
Postseason implications
With the sweep of the doubleheader and Berry and Rhodes splitting their doubleheader BSC now has a two-game lead over second place Rhodes. Berry fell to third in the conference after the loss.
News and notes
> BSC is now 35-4 against Oglethorpe all-time.
> Coming into last weekend BSC had four triples over the course of the season. Over the past two weekends they have recorded three.
> When Birmingham-Southern hits 4 or more home runs in a game they are 4-0 on the season.
Up next
Birmingham-Southern and Oglethorpe will finish their series on Saturday, April 16. Game time is set for 1 p.m. central time in Atlanta, Ga.
