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Stingers Complete Sweep Of Blue Eagles In Doubleheader
Web Posted June 11, 2010
 SPARTANBURG,
S.C. – Fresh off defeating the Blue Eagles 5-4 in extra innings of game of a doubleheader, the Carolina Stingers (4-6) were able to complete the sweep and defeat the Spartanburg Blue Eagles (5-5) 6-4 in game 2 Friday night in Fort Mill South Carolina.
Just like game one, the Blue Eagles struck first scoring one run in the first inning when Alex Dozier (USC-Sumpter) singled and came around to score later as a result of an error. The Stingers responded though, tying the game at 1 after one.
Spartanburg’s bats stayed hot in the second inning as they were able to score two runs to take a 3-1 lead. Catcher Austin Barber (Winthrop) led the inning off with a single, with second baseman Josh Pless (Citadel) reaching next as a result of a fielder’s choice. After Pless, Dozier bunted for a base hit which brought up right fielder and Fort Mill native Tyler Miller. Miller lined a double into right field that scored Dozier, and Pless giving the Blue Eagles the 3-1 lead.
The Stingers again responded as they were able to even the game 3-3 against Spartanburg starting pitcher Gus White. White had a solid outing, but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the third when the Stingers were able to score 2 runs, one of which resulted from a passed ball.
White’s final line resulted in him pitching 4.0 innings, allowed three runs, (two earned) on five hits. He also struck out four, while walking three.
George Schaefer came in and pitched a scoreless fifth, overcoming a leadoff walk and what he called a day where he did not have his best stuff.
“Mike Mussina said you’re only going to have your best stuff four out of ten times,” said Schaefer. “Tonight I struggled to get warm and it just wasn’t there. I got through it though.”
Schaefer was able to overcome not having his best stuff, relief pitcher Bobby Wilkins (USC-Salkehatchie) was not. Wilkins appeared in the sixth inning, and struggled to find his control. The Stingers leadoff man singled to center to start the inning off, with Wilkins walking the next man. That meant two stingers on base and no outs. An attempted sacrifice bunt attempt followed with Wilkins fielding and throwing to third because the Blue Eagles had the wheel played called. Shortstop Zac McCarthy (Erskine) covered third and according to the umpire, McCarthy’s foot slid off the bag while trying to retrieve the throw from Wilkins. McCarthy had other feelings when asked about the throw and catch after the game
“I mean the throw was a little wide, but I kept my foot on the bag when the ball hit my glove,” said McCarthy. “After I caught it and had possession, my foot slid off, but it was a force play. In my opinion it should have been an out.”
Well, that “should have been out” turned into a score as Wilkins proceeded to walk a man, hit a man, and walk one more man before finally recording three straight pop outs and getting out of the inning. By innings end, the Stingers had scored three runs off two hits, two walks, and one hit batsman.
Pless came to the plate and led off with a homer in the top of the seventh, but that was not enough as Stinger reliever Parker Sheets recorded the final three outs to secure the sweep and his first win of the season.
Sheets moved his win loss record to 1-1, while Bobby Wilkins fell to 0-1 on the season losing his first game as a Blue Eagle.
The Blue Eagles host the Stingers tomorrow at Russell C. King Field for a doubleheader at 5pm, with the second game beginning thirty minutes after the conclusion of the first.
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