ST. AUGUSTINE –
Ryan Ayrey and
Gabriel Partridge combined to strikeout nine batters and scatter four hits to lead Flagler College to a 3-2 win over the University of South Carolina Aiken in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Sunday afternoon at Drysdale Field.
Flagler took two games in the three-game weekend series and improved to 16-13 overall and 9-3 in the Peach Belt. It was the first series win by the Saints over the Pacers since the 2016 season, which was also two-of-three. USC Aiken dropped to 11-18 overall and 4-8 in conference play.
The Saints started the rally in the fifth inning when
Tyler Keith reached first after swing at strike three, but the Pacer catcher couldn't handle the pitch and the ball went to the backstop for a passed ball. After a sacrifice bunt moved Keith to second, he advanced to third on
Trey Newland's single to center.
Mason Gray followed with a double to left field to score Keith and tie the game at 1-all.
Myles Colangelo hit a flare to shallow right field that fell in and Newland scored to give the Saints the lead.
Matthew Burke added an RBI double in the sixth inning for the much-needed insurance run.
Ayrey (1-2) allowed one run on two hits in five innings of work to earn the win. He induced eight ground outs and five more flyouts. Partridge picked up his second save of the year as he scattered two hits and allowed one run. He struck out a season-best seven batters.
John Fiorenza paced the 11-hit attack going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and he scored a run. Colangelo collected a pair of singles and drove in a run while
Jaiden Warde singled twice.
AJ Deibel (0-1) took the loss on the hill for the Pacers. He allowed all three runs, two of which were earned, and surrendered 10 hits.
Jeff Cyr hit a pair of doubles and scored a run.
Flagler hosts No. 28 (
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Florida Tech on Tuesday, at 6 p.m., at Drysdale Field.
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