Wednesday, May 26, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – ETSU’s Chas Byrne struck out Preston Hale with the bases loaded, preserving a 7-5 victory for the Buccaneers in Wednesday’s nightcap of the 2010 Atlantic Sun Baseball Championship at Ken Dugan Field on the campus of Lipscomb University.

Hale, who had homered in his previous two at bats, could not connect a third time as he took a called strike three from Byrne. Byrne saved the win for Bo Burton who went the first 8.1 innings to earn his ninth victory. Byrne began his appearance by striking out Justin Preckajlo, the Ospreys’ leader in home runs, in front of Hale.

Read the Atlantic Sun Insider Column from ETSU's victory HERE.

In the top of the fifth inning, Derek Niesman stood at third base with two out and ETSU (31-26) holding a 3-2 advantage when UNF (29-27) decided to intentionally walk the Player of the Year, Paul Hoilman, in front of First Team catcher Derek Trent. Trent singled in Niesman and following a walk to Bo Reeder, All-Freshman shortstop Kerry Doane singled home Hoilman and Trent. UNF’s Michael Kelly allowed six runs in 5.1 innings of work and took the loss.

Hale homered leading off the top of the sixth and added a two-run shot two innings later, pulling his squad to within two runs. He became the first player to hit multiple home runs in an Atlantic Sun Baseball Championship game since Campbell’s Brandon Scott homered twice against Mercer on May 22, 2008.

In a game delayed more than hour due to rain, ETSU notched singled tallies in the second, third and fourth innings and followed up its three-run fifth with a run in the seventh. Matthew Scruggs hit a solo home run in the third inning and Reeder hit his 20th home run of the season, part of a 3-for-3 night at the plate, one inning later.

The Buccaneers will face Mercer at 7:00 p.m. CT in Thursday’s nightcap. The Ospreys take on top-seeded FGCU at 3:00 p.m. CT in an elimination game for the Ospreys. All the action will be broadcast, free of charge, on ASun.TV.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.