Bantams Win Series Against SWVA
Despite an early lead, SWVA falls to the Bantams
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Southwest Virginia
|
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
|
USC Union
|
0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | X | 11 | 10 | 1 |
In a collegiate baseball matchup on February 2, 2025, USC Union secured a decisive 8-3 victory over Southwest Virginia Community College (VA CC). The game, held at USC Union, saw the home team dominate both offensively and defensively, capitalizing on early scoring opportunities and maintaining their lead throughout the contest.
The game began with Southwest VA CC taking an early lead in the first inning when Peyton Dodson scored on a wild pitch. However, USC Union quickly responded with a commanding six-run rally in the bottom of the first inning. Key contributions included a triple by Talarico, which brought Jackson home, and a series of errors and passed balls by Southwest VA CC that allowed additional runs. Barcelo's single and subsequent scoring play, along with Everett's run following an error, further solidified USC Union's lead.
USC Union extended their advantage in the second inning with a solo home run by Kirksey, making the score 7-1. Although Southwest VA CC attempted a comeback with a home run by Ethan Roberts in the third inning, USC Union maintained control. Barcelo added another RBI single in the fourth inning, bringing the score to 8-2.
Southwest VA CC managed to add one more run in the seventh inning, thanks to a double by Hunter Welch that brought Caleb Johnson home. However, it was not enough to overcome USC Union's lead.
Pitching played a crucial role in USC Union's victory. Merck, who earned the win, pitched three innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. Allen and Brown provided strong relief, combining for four innings with one earned run and an impressive eleven strikeouts.
Despite their efforts, Southwest VA CC struggled with errors, committing three throughout the game, which proved costly. Their starting pitcher, Brayden Dilday, took the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits over 1.2 innings.
Overall, USC Union's combination of timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and solid pitching secured their win, showcasing their capability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes.