Thursday, May 23, 2002

Charleston, S.C. (May 23, 2002) - Scooter Michael hurled a complete game shutout at East Tennessee State this afternoon, out dueling Tim Turner (Marietta, Ga.) to lift the Spartans to a 3-0 win that eliminated the Bucs from the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament. It was a pitcher's dual for the first six innings, with Turner and Michael hooking up in a classic matchup. Turner surrendered just two hits over the first six frames while the Buccaneer defense turned three double plays behind him to help keep the Spartans off the board. Michael was just as effective, scattering four hits. UNCG finally broke through with three runs in the top of the seventh. The Spartans loaded the bases with one out when they started the innings with a pair of singles and a walk. Mike McClain then drew a walk off Turner to drive in the first run of the game. Nick Lockhart then plated the next run with a sac fly to left before David Adams came up with a two-out single to drive in the final run of the inning. That would prove to be all the runs that Michael would need, as he went the distance, shutting out the Bucs on six hits while striking out eight against just one walk. ETSU left runners on base in the second through seventh innings, but could not come up with the big hit to score a run. Turner also pitched well, but took the loss, allowing all three runs on five hits in 6.2 innings on the mound. Neither team had a hitter that had more than one hit. McClain went 1-for-2 for UNCG, driving in one run. Ryan Hyder (Erwin, Tenn.) went 1-for-3 to lead ETSU, while Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.) added a double for the Bucs. The loss ended the Bucs' season with a 21-36 record, while UNCG improved to 32-21 and will face the loser of the Western Carolina-College of Charleston game on Friday.