MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Neumann University got back to .500 as they took down Bridgwater State University in the first game of their annual Spring Break trek to South Carolina. The final score was 12-6.
After a scoreless first, Bridgewater State got on the board with two sacrifice flies in the top of the second.
Marcus White led off the bottom of the frame with a double then moved to third on an
Isaiah Payton single. After Payton stole second,
Benny Licata drove in both runners with a two-run double, tying the game at two.
The Bears scored an unearned run in the top of the third, but the Knights responded again.
Joe Boccio led off with a walk and moved to second two batter later when White walked. Payton also was issued a base on balls, loading the bases. A wild pitch plated Boccio to tie the game and moved White and Payton up 90 feet.
Andrew Curran gave Neumann the lead on a three-run blast, his first homer of the season, making it a 6-3 game.
In the fourth, Bridgewater State got back in the game as two runs scored via an error and another run came in on another sacrifice fly. Curran led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and then reached third when
Matt Mason reached on a fielder's choice and an error.
Nick Glebocki loaded the bases on a walk and, after a pitching change,
Brandon Colon plated Curran on a sacrifice fly, giving the Knights the lead once again. Boccio followed with a two-run single and the lead was up to three.
Neumann pushed ahead by four in the sixth when White singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and was driven home on a Payton RBI double. With one out in the seventh, Boccio doubled and
Zion Spearman reached on an error. Payton drove in both with a triple and the eighth and ninth innings went scoreless.
Payton was a homer shy of a cycle, going 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, a stolen base, three runs batted in, and two runs scored. Boccio was also 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. White was 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, and three runs.
Aidan Jackson got the win on the mound, giving up six runs, but only one earned, on six hits and four walks while striking out four. He's now 1-0 on the season. The duo of
Vic Mejia and
Joe Longo hurled the last four innings and only allowed two base runners while striking out three.
Neumann(2-2) will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Hilbert College. First pitch from Myrtle Beach is scheduled for 4:00 PM.