Pioneers and Royals Split Doubleheader

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team split a twinbill with Johnson University on Friday. The Pioneers took game one by a 3-2 margin, whereas the Royals picked up game two, 5-3.

SMC plated a run in each of the first two innings and added another in the fourth on its way to the 3-2 win in game one. The first game of the doubleheader saw the Pioneers record 10 hits with extra-base hits by Dario Astudillo, Justin Dawkins and Leo Lopez. Jarian Pinckney, Blake Exizan and Astudillo each had two hits.

Exizan put SMC on the scoreboard in the first on a RBI single; then a solo home run by Lopez stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second for the early lead. Then, in the fourth a misplayed ball by the Royals plated an unearned run.

Johnson cut into the lead with a two-RBI single by Travis Hobbensiefken in the fifth inning. The Royals had the tying run aboard on four occasions in the final innings, including a runner on third with one out in the ninth. SMC reliever Carson Matthews closed the door, picking up a strikeout and a flyout to end the contest.

The nightcap saw the visitors score four times in the second inning en route to the 5-3 wi.n SMC was limited to just five hits – two off the bat of Matt Smith. A solo home run by Brady Jeffcoat in the bottom of the first tied the game at one. The Pioneers cut into the deficit, scoring twice in the fifth inning.

SMC had tying run aboard in the sixth before Royals reliever James Showalter came into the game and struck out the final four batters for Johnson to secure the win.

Next, the Pioneers will host Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the NAIA preseason poll.