Wednesday, April 05, 2006

(April 5, 2006) - Junior outfielder C.J. Lee's (Bristol, Va.) infield single in the 11^th inning scored junior Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) from third base, and the Bucs topped the Volunteers 8-7 before a season-high crowd of 1,713 for their first season sweep of the in-state rival since 1979.

Douglas reached on a one-out walk in the inning, advanced to second on a groundout and stole third to move into position for the game-winning run.  After a hit batter, Lee drove a 1-2 pitch from Tennessee reliever Chase Hardin into third baseman Cody Brown.  The ball caromed into the middle of the infielder away from any Tennessee defender allowing the game-winner across.

The Bucs (18-13) found themselves in a 3-0 hole in the second inning after second baseman Michael Rivera's three-run homer off ETSU starter Joey McCown (Alcoa, Tenn.), but scored two in the third, and took the lead with three more in the fifth.

Trailing 3-2, senior Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.) reached on his third bunt single of the season.  Traylor advanced to third on a two-base throwing error by Volunteer starter Ty Pryor, and scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch.  With two on and two out, Lee tripled to right center field, giving the Bucs the 5-3 advantage.

A two-run Volunteer homer in the sixth tied the game again, but the Bucs immediately responded with two of their own in the bottom half, restoring the two run lead. After junior Michael Courtney (Knoxville, Tenn.) tripled with one out, senior Josiah Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.) brought him home with a bloop single to right field.  A throwing error brought Glafenhein around for the second run of the frame.

The Volunteers (18-11), tied the game in the eighth, again on the strength of a two-run homer.  First baseman Chris Kemp drove the first pitch from reliever Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.) over the right center field wall to tie the contest.  Calicutt settled down afterwards, and threw 3 2/3 shutout innings to end the contest.

Calicutt picked up the win, improving to 5-2 on the season, and Hardin (0-1) absorbed his first loss.

The Bucs return to Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend, traveling to Kennesaw State for a three-game set.  The first game is scheduled for Friday evening at 6 p.m. with doubleheader to conclude the series starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.