Eagles Win Streak Hits Five
KINSTON, N.C. – The Eagles have won five straight games after a 6-2 defeat of Edward Waters (Fla.) in the Unaffiliated Tournament pairing the AMC, KIAC and GCAC conferences. The winner receives a berth into the NAIA Opening Round.
Asbury had their second straight masterful starting performance in the tournament as senior Brad Williams picked up his second win of the season (2-7) with a complete game, scattering nine hits. Williams struck out seven and walked only one. Only one of the two runs scored against him was earned. So far in the tournament Asbury’s starting pitchers have thrown 18 innings allowing only six runs, four earned.
Edward Waters (22-21-1) scored first, thanks to two errors in the first inning by shortstop Josh Cummins. Asbury (16-36) responded with a four spot in the third, all with two outs. Matt Cox got the rally started with a single up the middle and Casey Messner followed by being hit by a pitch. After Tyler Weaver knocked in one with a single to left, Danny Olszowy followed with a two-run double into the left field corner. Tyler Wooden finished the scoring with a single to score Olszowy.
The Eagles tacked on a run in the fifth and sixth innings as Messner scored one on a sac fly and Brandon Smith knocked one in on a fielder’s choice. Edward Waters scored their second run in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs, a 6-4-3 double play netted the Tigers their run.
The Eagles have pounded out 13 hits in each of the first two games of this tournament. Olszowy’s doubled in the third game him his 60th hit of the season, breaking Kyle Cullum’s school record of 59 hits in a season. Cullum set the mark in the 1999 season.
With the loss Edward Waters is eliminated from the tournament after losing on Tuesday to Indiana Southeast 8-3. They entered the tournament as the four seed. Asbury entered as the lowest, sixth, seed. Asbury advances to play tonight’s winner of the Indiana Southeast and Talladega game. The Eagles will play at 10 am on Thursday. If they win Thursday they will play for the championship on Friday.
UPDATE: Asbury will play KIAC rival Indiana Southeast on Thursday at 10 am. IUS beat Talladega 21-3 on Wednesday. Asbury and IUS split four games in New Albany earlier in the season and the Eagles defeated the Grenadiers 2-1 last Saturday in Kingsport, Tenn. to capture their first KIAC Tournament Championship. Talladega will face Point Park at 2 pm on Thursday in an elimination game.
A look at the updated bracket through Asbury's game here.
