Knights Run Away With a 17-7 Victory over Bryan

LAURINBURG, N.C. - St. Andrews baseball showcased their offensive firepower early and often in a 17-7 victory over Bryan College. The Knights opened up the weekend series against the Lions by winning and improving to a 25-6 overall record and 10-3 in Appalachian Athletic Conference action.

St. Andrews finished the game with 17 runs on 17 hits while Bryan scored their seven runs on six hits. Despite winning the game by mercy rule, the Knights defense committed three errors in the series opener.

The Knights scored the first run of the game in the opening inning and added three runs in the second and third.

Bryan broke the shutout with a run in the fourth, just before St. Andrews scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Chance Blum (SO/Dublin, GA) started the fifth with an RBI single that drove in Frank Salimbene (SR/Greensboro, NC). Nate Vigeant (NA/Warwick, RI) added two more runs with a single and later scored when Greg Izzo (SR/Fort Mill, SC) drove him in with a single to right field. After winning the AAC Player of the Week award earlier this week, Joshua Benfield (JR/Stanley, NC) proved that he was worthy of the honor by hitting a two-run home run to left-center.

The Lions scored six runs on five hits in the sixth inning but still trailed 14-7. Vigeant added some insurance with a double to center for his second RBI of the day.

St. Andrews ended the game by mercy rule in the seventh off the bat of Benfield who put another ball past the center field fence and scored Caden Santucci (FR/Tampa, FL).

Benfield, Vigeant, Izzo, Blum, and Jenfry Perez Castillo (SR/Brentwood, NY) each finished with three hits apiece. Benfield and Vigeant contributed four RBIs each. Jaxon Snider (SR/Denton, NC) added a 2-4 performance at the plate.

Josiah Barthite earned the win on the mound in a five-inning outing. Barhite allowed five hits, seven runs, and struck out two. Shawn Taylor (FR/Myrtle Beach, SC) pitched two innings in relief and allowed one hit and struck out one.

The two teams will meet back up tomorrow for a doubleheader at Clark Field starting at 12:00 pm.