AUGUSTA, Ga — A three-run rally in the seventh inning and a pair of insurance runs in the ninth lifted Newberry to a 6-3 win over Augusta, giving the Wolves two wins in a wild Wednesday.
Newberry (10-9) began the day with an 11:00 a.m. game with visiting Lincoln (Pa.), taking a 16-3 decision at the Smith Road Complex. The Wolves then boarded a charter bus for Augusta, arriving at Lake Olmstead Stadium 58 minutes before the first pitch was thrown in Wednesday night’s game against the Jaguars (6-14).
A pair of RBI singles in the fourth inning gave Augusta a 3-0 lead over the Wolves, but the first of two sacrifice flies to center field by Colin Allman drew Newberry closer in the top of the fifth. His second cut the margin to a run in the seventh, moving three runners up 90 feet after a hit batsman, a walk, and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs.
Derek Olenchuk then put the Wolves ahead on the next pitch. The senior’s infield single scored Dalton Lansdowne and a throwing error on the play allowed Danton Hyman to score from second.
Newberry added two insurance runs in the ninth inning to put the game out of reach. Hyman worked a one-out walk and Allman was struck by a pitch in the left earhole to put two on for pinch hitter Tommy Passerello, who walked on four pitches and was lifted for a pinch runner with two outs. First baseman Tyler Ackard ripped a single into right field to score two more runs and give the Wolves their final margin.
Newberry pitcher Quinton Driggers helped the Wolves maintain their one-run advantage in the eighth. He entered the game with the bases loaded and one out, retiring the first Jaguar he faced on a called third strike for the critical second out. He then raced to cover first base on a soft chopper between Ackard and Lansdowne on the right side of the infield.
Lansdowne fielded the grounder and threw toward the bag, with Driggers forced to lunge down and to his right to make the play. He brushed his right foot across the corner of the bag on the bang-bang play to retire the side.
Hunter Hill worked a perfect eighth and Shannon Smith retired the side in order in the ninth for his second save of the season, ending the game on a called third strike as the Newberry bench spilled from the first base dugout. Robert Westenrieder earned the win in relief, working 0.2 innings after coming in for Tomas Sorcia Jr. with two outs in the sixth after a gritty performance by the lanky right-hander.
Allman was held without a hit for the first time in 15 games, but drove in a pair of runs on his two sacrifice flies. The sophomore shortstop reached base for the 21st consecutive game.
Ackard and Olenchuk led the Wolves offensively with three hits apiece. The Wolves were outhit 9-8 in the contest, but stranded 10 Augusta runners on base.
The Wolves would also defeat the visiting Lions of Lincoln 16-3.