Wolves sweep Gulf Coast
Published 5:00 am Monday, April 28, 2003
PERKINSTON – The Co-Lin Wolves completed an impressive week ofbaseball, sweeping the nationally-ranked Gulf Coast Bulldogs on asun-kissed Saturday afternoon. Co-Lin won the opener 6-4 and thefinale 8-4.
“Gulf Coast won the South (Division) so this was a good victoryfor us,” said Co-Lin head coach Keith Case. The Bulldogs are rankedNo. 17 in the NJCAA Division I poll.
Co-Lin improved to 17-27 overall and 6-10 in the South Division.Gulf Coast fell to 28-15 and 10-6 in the division.
Co-Lin had split a Wednesday twinbill with nationally-rankedPearl River at Poplarville. Pearl River is ranked No. 2 in DivisionII.
“All wins are very pleasing this year but beating Gulf Coast wasspecial because they are a very good team,” said Case. “Hopefullythis will give us the momentum we need going into the statetournament. Our pitchers are starting to get healthy again.”
Co-Lin plays its final home game Wednesday, hosting Delgado(La.) for a twinbill. The first game starts at 2 p.m., on SullivanField.
The Wolves begin play in the regional tournament May 8, atItawamba.
Co-Lin 6, Gulf Coast 4
Freshman Matt Fitzsimmons picked up the win. In 4.1 innings, hegave up 4 runs on 6 hits. He walked 1 batter and fanned 2.
Calen Cline relieved Fitzsimmons in the fifth and got asave.
Joe Coleman was the losing pitcher.
First baseman Ben Goza slugged a mammoth 3-run homer in thesecond inning. Cayce Wallace and Jeffrey Waycaster had singled toset the stage for Goza’s third homer of the season.
Shortstop Nick Moody had 2 doubles for the Bulldogs.
Co-Lin third baseman Diego Nucete had 2 RBI in the fifth inning,Casey Ginn walked and Aaron Oberschmidt singled. Aaron Guillotsacrifice bunted and advanced the runners. Nucete’s single plated 2runs and gave the Wolves a 5-2 lead.
Co-Lin 8, Gulf Coast 4
Lance Deville was the winning pitcher in relief of Cass Brister.Deville gave up 3 hits and 2 runs, struck out 4 and walked none in4 innings.
Gulf Coast got 2 homers from leftfielder Grant Patterson. Thirdbaseman Burt Pickard also homered.
Centerfielder Paris Dancy doubled and had 2 RBI for Co-Lin. Gozaalso had 2 RBI. Oberschmidt and Dancy both had 2 hits.
Co-Lin built a 6-2 lead. The Wolves went up 3-1 on singles byGoza and Waycaster. Brandon Hubbard’s sacrifice drove inWaycaster.
In the seventh, Co-Lin scored twice. Guillot reached on aninfield error, Nucete singled and Dancy was hit by a pitch to loadthe bases. Wallace’s grounder plated Guillot. Goza’s RBI to centerpushed home Nucete with the next run.
“Those two runs in the seventh gave us some breathing room,”said Case.