Eagles Finish Out Divisional Play With A Sweep
Web Posted July 10, 2010
Cameron Aiken

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Spartanburg pounded out 11 hits and scored 5 runs to defeat the Carolina Chaos 5-1 Saturday night in game two of a doubleheader.

The Blue Eagles won game one behind a strong pitching performance from Wofford Terrier Ryan Traylor. The Chaos must have thought they were experiencing deja-vu in game two as they faced another Terrier pitcher who again shut the door on their offensive production.

Anthony Rowland (3-0) pitched six shut out innings in only his second start of the summer, often confusing Chaos hitters with his fastball and slider. Rowland, who had primarily been a middle reliever for Spartanburg this season, allowed on two hits, one walk, and struck seven Chaos hitters in route to his third win of the summer.

Rowland talked about his spot start after the game and why he was able to be so effective.

“The slider was my main pitch today,” said Rowland, who carried a perfect game into the fourth inning. “I alternated that and my fastball and it really seemed to keep them (the Chaos) off balance. My arm felt great and I’m ready to go anytime coach needs me.”

The game stood at a scoreless tie until the top of the fourth inning when first baseman Gaither Bumgardner (USC-Upstate) drew a walk and right fielder Aaron Preston (Presbyterian) was hit in the back. Leftfielder Tyler Miller (USC-Upstate) then came to the plate and singled home his collegiate teammate Bumgardner to take an early lead 1-0 lead. Matt Moore (Wofford) then stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Preston, extending the Blue Eagle lead to 2-0.

Spartanburg followed the fourth scoring one run in the fifth inning and then added two in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead which ultimately was closed out by reliever David Mullins. (Coastal Carolina)

Mullins loaded the bases and allowed one run in the seventh inning before finally getting a strikeout and a lineout to end the game which moved Spartanburg to 21-15 overall and 13-5 in the western division.

Spartanburg’s sweep of the Chaos earned them at least a tie for first place in the Western division. The Tennessee Tornados, who are currently 11-5 in the division, host the Chaos next week in a doubleheader that has first place implications on the line. If Tennessee sweeps the doubleheader, they will have an identical record as the Blue Eagles meaning the teams will share the Western division crown as both teams went 3-3 against each other in the regular season. However, if they lose one game, the Blue Eagles will win the West and be given the number seed in the playoffs. Both teams cannot be rewarded the number seed in the playoffs if the Tornadoes sweep the Chaos and the tiebreaker would be whoever has a better overall league record.

Head Coach Ryan Thomas spoke about the sweep of the Chaos after the game and what he thinks about the Blue Eagles chances of being a number one seed.

“It was huge. I mean Traylor and Rowland pitched great for us and I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. We are just going to have to wait to see what Tennessee does against the Chaos, but either way these remaining games we have on our schedule are now big because we want to have the best overall record in the league just in case Tennessee’s able to take care of business.”

To be the best, one has to beat the best, and Spartanburg will have an opportunity to that when the Lake Norman Copperheads comes to town Monday July 12th. The Copperheads hold the best record in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League at 20-12 overall and 12-4 in the division.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7pm.