Tech, Ga.State, Piedmont take Sunday wins

Posted 9:36AM on Monday 25th February 2002 ( 23 years ago )

Two baseball players from Gainesville/Hall County played big parts in separate college wins Sunday. Three Georgia State pitchers combined on a three-hitter to lead the Panthers to a 20-2 win Sunday over Savannah State. Senior Josh Vandiver, a Johnson graduate, became the first Panther to hit for the cycle since May. Vandiver started with a double in the third inning, followed with a solo homerun in the fourth, a triple in the fifth and a single in the seventh. Savannah State (14-6) threatened in the first inning when junior Jonathan Craig walked in a run after hitting two batters, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize. The Panthers (4-2) scored eight runs on six hits in the third inning, while sending 12 players to the plate. In the fifth inning, Georgia State scored six runs on six hits. In Myrtle Beach, Brian Burks tossed eight strong innings and Clifton Remole had three hits as eighth-ranked Georgia Tech (8-1) defeated Virginia Commonwealth (5-8), 8-2, Sunday in the final day of the Baseball at the Beach tournament at Coastal Federal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Burks (2-0) picked up his second win of the season in as many starts after dominating the VCU hitters for eight innings. He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits and one walk while striking out a career-high eight batters. Only one of the three hits he allowed left the infield. Senior Victor Menocal out of Gainesville High tossed a scoreless and hitless ninth inning to preserve Tech's victory. Menocal had scored Tech's second run of the game on a single in the first inning by Jeremy Slayden. Jason Perry had a three-run double for the Jackets in the ninth inning. Georgia State is scheduled to play at Georgia Tech Saturday. In Savannah, Armstrong Atlantic State took advantage of five Georgia errors to defeat the Bulldogs 7-6 in 11 innings here Sunday at the Diamond Classic. After the Bulldogs (2-1) dodged bullets in the ninth and 10th, they couldn't escape trouble in the 11th. Chris Boaen led off with a base hit and then Rob Mills was hit by a pitch by Jeffery Carswell. Bryan Wilson put a bunt down the third base line and catcher Clint Sammons picked it up and fired a throw down to third but the throw was high and off the tip of Justin Holmes' glove and into left field as Boaen raced home for the win. Jeremy Olsen threw five shutout innings in relief for the win while Carswell falls to 0-1. Carswell gave up just the one unearned run on four hits in 3.2 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Also near Savannah, Piedmont College completed a three-game sweep of Savannah College of Art and Design with a 7-4 win Sunday. Piedmont (6-2) scored three times in the seventh to break open a tie game. Joe Durski's double scored what proved to be the gamer. Daniel Young had reached on a SCAD bad throw, and reached second on a sac bunt by Andrew Wagner. Stephen McClain and R.J. Willinger also added RBI hits for the Lions in the seventh. Louis Albin pitched six innings for the win. Terry Roberson earned the save. Reliever Brad Kempson (1-1) took the loss for the Bees (4-6). Durski had a good day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Piedmont softball women (2-3) went 1-for-3 at the SCAD Tournament Friday and Saturday. After losing to eventual champ LaGrange Friday 3-1, Piedmont beat the University of the South 6-3 Saturday but were knocked off by the host school in a 4-0 shut-out. In other state baseball Sunday, Georgia Southern (4-5) completed a four-game sweep of Bucknell 4-1 in Statesboro. In Carrollton, West Georgia swept a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta 11-1, and 9-0. Berry (8-4) swept four games from visiting Harris Stowe with DH wins 11-2, and 10-0. Georgia College and State University went to 14-0 by sweeping visiting USC-Spartanburg 9-8 and 12-6. Kennesaw State lost for the first time in seven games when Francis Marion held them off 11-8. Columbus State (12-5) edged UNC-Pembroke 5-4.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/2/198349