Baseball beats Lane and the rain
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
With an impending storm making its way toward Birmingham, Miles moved the start time of its Saturday doubleheader against Lane up by two hours. By changing the game time, the Golden Bears were able to finish their sweep of the Dragons (9-1 and 8-2) moments before the rains descended upon historic Rickwood Field.
Austin Pate and
William Donahoo each pitched complete games while
Xavius Burden (four hits, five runs batted in),
Ryan Bargery (four hits, five runs scored, three stolen bases) and Reaves Brashear (three hits, four RBI) were the offensive stars.
GAME 1: Miles 9, Lane 1
After giving up a two-out RBI double to Chris O'Neal in the first inning, Pate (4-1) shut down the Dragons, allowing just six hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The offense did not send Pate back to the mound trailing after the first. Bargery and
Trevor Bates both walked in the first and stole bases to get to second and third. Burden singled to bring home Bargery and a fielder's choice by
Darione Adkison brought home Bates for a 2-1 lead.
Ahead 3-1 in the fourth, the Golden Bears scored twice in the fourth - one on a RBI double by Brashear - then added four more in the fifth. Bargery had a two-run single, Bates added a sacrifice fly and Burden singled to right for what turned out to be the final run. Pate rarely found trouble for the rest of the game, although O'Neal would double - again - with a runner on in the third. But a perfect relay from
Alex Bentley to
Kolby Brannon to
Justin Bisharat nailed Melvin Crayton at the plate. No other Dragon touched third base the rest of the game.
GAME 2: Miles 8, Lane 2
The nightcap played very similar to the opener. Donahoo (5-2) gave up a 2-run single to O'Neal in the top of the first but that is all the Dragons would get as he allowed just six hits, walked three and struck out six. Burden smoked a two-run double to left center to tie the game and Brashear would score him with a single to give the Golden Bears the lead for good. Burden and Brashear would team up to knock in runs in the second to push the Miles advantage to 5-2.
Lane's best chance to get back in the game came in the third when it loaded the bases with two outs. But Donahoo induced a fly ball to center on the first pitch t Christian Armstrong to quell the threat. Bargery would drive in a run in the fifth and Brashear would drive in his third run of the game in a two-run sixth to close out the scoring.
UP NEXT:Â
The two teams will wrap-up the three-game series on Sunday with a single 9-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
