MEMPHIS-Visiting Union swept a Gulf South Conference doubleheader from the Christian Brothers University Bucs Saturday afternoon at Nadicksbernd Field, winning the first game 3-0 in 10 innings and rallying from a late 2-0 deficit to win the nightcap 3-2.
GAME 1:WHAT HAPPENED:After nine scoreless innings, the Bulldogs (10-3, 4-1 GSC) scored three runs in the top of the 10th to claim a 3-0 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• After
Jack Parker (Shreveport, La./Evangel Christian Academy) tossed nine scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out nine, the game went into extra innings. The Bucs stranded 10 runners in the first nine innings, including six in scoring position.
• Union converted four walks, a single and a double into three runs in the top of the 10th for the game's three runs.
• The Bucs put yet another runner in scoring position in the 10th as
Lucas Castleberry (Bryant, Ark./Bryant HS) singled and stole second, but he was left there when the game ended on a strikeout.
KEY STATS:• In nine-plus innings, Parker finished allowing three hits and four walks with nine strikeouts and only one run allowed.
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Nick Traylor (Germantown, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) went 2-for-4.
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Michael Halley (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) was 2-for-5.
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Mickey Smith (Arlington, Tenn./Arlington HS) went 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch.
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Scott Pala (Hernando, Miss./Hernando HS) was 1-for-3 with a walk.
GAME 2:WHAT HAPPENED:The Bucs (4-10, 0-5) scored two runs in the fourth, but Union answered with two int he sixth and one in the seventh to claim a sweep.
HOW IT HAPPENED:•
Christian Halterman (Dyersburg, Tenn./Dyer County HS) opened the fourth inning by drawing a walk. Smith reached on a fielder's choice, and an error allowed Halterman to move to second. Castleberry followed with a single to right to load the bases. Traylor drove Halterman in with a squeeze bunt. Smith scored the second run when Halley reached on an error, but Castleberry was caught in a rundown trying to score from second on the error.
• The Bulldogs leveled the score in the top of the sixth with two runs on a double, a hit batter and three singles.
• Union broke the deadlock on the first pitch of the seventh inning, when Nolen Milton blasted a homer to left to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory.
KEY STATS:• Castleberry went 2-for-3.
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Joe Mattson (Nashville, Tenn./Franklin Road Academy) was 1-for-3
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Blain Curtis (Atoka, Tenn./Tipton Rosemark Academy) went 1-for-4.
• Traylor was 0-for-1 with one RBI but drew a walk and laid down a sacrifice.
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Patrick Gurley (Little Rock, Ark./Catholic HS) threw five and a third innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Bucs and Bulldogs meet again Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the final game of the series.
