Bulldogs Battle Into Extras, Fall in Series Finale to SMC

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The Union Commonwealth University baseball team (6-33, 3-23 AAC) battled into extra innings in the series finale but ultimately dropped the final two games of its conference series against Spartanburg Methodist (22-21, 14-10 AAC).

Game One: Spartanburg Methodist 6, Union Commonwealth 5 (11 innings)

• Spartanburg Methodist struck first with an RBI single in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

• Union answered in the bottom half of the inning as Cristian Bajjalieha delivered an RBI single to score Joaquin Gutierrez and tie the game at 1-1.

• The Pioneers added four runs between the second and fifth innings to build a 5-1 advantage before the Bulldogs began to rally in the fifth. Gutierrez drove in Cameron Mays with an RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Isaiah Pintor to cut the deficit to 5-3.

• Union continued to chip away in the seventh inning, as Aiden Wilson scored on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, Brysen Vernon delivered an RBI single to score Noah Young and even the game at 5-5.

• The Bulldogs held firm to force extra innings, but Spartanburg Methodist pushed across the go-ahead run in the 11th to secure the 6-5 victory.

Pitchers of Record
Win – Nicky White (3-1)
Loss – Cooper Cantrell (1-2)

Game Leaders
Cristian Bajjalieha – 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Brysen Vernon – 2-for-4, RBI

Game Two: Spartanburg Methodist 5, Union Commonwealth 3

• Spartanburg Methodist jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs across the first two innings.

• Union responded in the third inning when Joaquin Gutierrez recorded an RBI single to score Cameron Mays and make it 3-1.

• The Pioneers extended their lead with two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-1 advantage.

• The Bulldogs mounted a late push in the sixth inning, as Brysen Vernon delivered a two-run double to score Isaiah Pintor and Noah Young, cutting the deficit to 5-3. However, Union was unable to complete the comeback.

Pitchers of Record
Win – Miles Corcoran (2-1)
Loss – Braylon Greene (2-4)

Game Leaders
Joaquin Gutierrez – 2-for-4, RBI

To see who was named Baymont Inn Player of the Game, click here.