Thigpen, Adams Set Records as Eagles Sweep Brescia
WILMORE, Ky. – Senior right-handed pitchers Josh Thigpen and Gardner Adams set school career records as the Eagles swept Brescia 3-2 and 5-0 on Friday. The games were moved from Owensboro to Wilmore due to flooding.
Adams started game two needing only 10 strikeouts to set the school career record, he would record 11 in his second straight complete game and first shutout of the season. It is the second time this season the senior from Lexington notched double-digit strikeouts, also recording 13 back on April 16th against Berea. He currently has 194 in 152.3 innings pitched, which breaks John Slone’s 13-year record of 192.
In his start against Brescia Adams allowed only two hits and two walks, he also hit a batter. He also ties the school mark for single-season wins with his 10th. He allowed only one runner to reach second base after a one-out double by catcher John Kapu in the second. Pinch-runner Andy Dickson went to third on a passed ball. After a strikeout Adams walked and hit a batter to load the bases but would bounce back to strike out Todd Carver to end the threat.
The Eagles pounded out 10 hits in the second game off of Tyler Richardson as Casey Messner, Aaron Rowe and Brandon Smith all picked up two hits each. Asbury scored one run in each of the second, third and sixth innings and added two in the seventh. Five different players picked up an RBI in the game for the Eagles as they won their third straight and 11th of their last 12 overall.
In game one Josh Thigpen (Maple, N.C.) would notch his 17th career win in a complete game one-hitter. Thigpen sets the new school-record for wins in a career, he is 5-1 this season. Despite allowing only one hit Thigpen allowed two runs, one earned. The one hit didn’t come until the sixth inning. He walked four and hit two.
Asbury manufactured their first run in the first inning as Greg Bowling led off the game with a single. After stealing second he was sacrificed to third by Messner and Danny Olszowy drove him in with a sac fly to right. In the third Matt Ciolek knocked in two with a two-out bases loaded single to center.
A one-out one-on double to right was the first and only hit off Thigpen off the bat of Ben Goetz in the sixth, scoring Lane Potter. One out later Goetz would come around to score on a wild play. An error by shortstop Brandon Smith allowed Alex Hegge to reach first and Goetz to come all the way around from second to score. Hegge would take off for second and the throw from catcher Marshall Banks sailed into center field where Danny Olszowy picked it up and threw out Hegge at third, ending the inning. Thigpen would strike out the side in the seventh.
Asbury will honor their seniors on Saturday in between games against Cincinnati-Clermont. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
