Blue Eagles Break Out Brooms
Web Posted July 3, 2010
Randall Stewart

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Spartanburg Blue Eagles swept the Tennessee Tornado at Russell C. King Field Saturday by scores of 2-0 and 3-2.

Game 1 saw Wofford’s Ryan Traylor pitch a complete game 7-inning shutout in just one hour and 26 minutes. Traylor allowed just two hits and walked none while striking out five Tornado players. USC Upstate product Brody Greer was 2-for-2 with a run scored. Zac McCarthy went 2-for-3 with a double and made a brilliant catch in left field, diving and crashing to the ground to prevent a fly ball from falling into the gap.

Spartanburg was able to take advantage of three Tornado errors in to score both of its runs in a disastrous fifth inning for Tennessee. Tyler Miller reached on an error, and Brody Greer bunted a single. Josh Pless reached on another bunt single, and an error allowed Miller to score. Pless would come around to score three batters later on an error by the shortstop, giving more than enough run support for Ryan Traylor to earn the victory.

In the second game, shaky defense was again the story for Tennessee. Spartanburg scored its first run on a wild first-inning play that saw Jaren Sustar score from first on a stolen base and two errors. Spartanburg went up 3-0 on RBI singles by Jaren Sustar and Aaron Preston in the third inning. Sustar was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs.

Tennessee tried to mount a comeback in the fifth inning, scoring two runs off Blue Eagle starter Gaither Bumgardner. But David Mullins, a recent acquisition from Coastal Carolina, pitched two perfect innings to record the save.

With the wins, Spartanburg improves to 18-12 on the season, 11-5 in the SCBL West, and moves into a tie for first place with Tennessee.

Spartanburg next plays at home on Monday, July 5 against the Morganton Aggies. The game begins at 7:00 and will be Salute to Armed Forces Night. Local servicemen and women have been invited to attend and be honored at the game. Local Boy and Girl Scouts will also be in attendance. General admission tickets are available at the gate for $5.