Baseball Opens Season at N.C. Wesleyan

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The Mitchell College baseball team opened the 2014 season with a loss and a tie at North Carolina Wesleyan College on Thursday afternoon at Bauer Field.

The Mariners dropped the opener 5-0 but rebounded for a 1-1 stalemate in eight innings in the series finale. Junior Peter McTernan finished with two hits and drove in a run in the second game while sophomore starter Al Jordan Johnson went 6.0 innings and allowed only one run on five hits while striking out seven.

Mitchell struck first in the second game, scratching across a run in the top of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by McTernan. Senior Marc Dorsi started the frame with a single to center field and later stole second base. He then moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a fly ball to center.

N.C. Wesleyan came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. The Battling Bishops tied things up on a one-out double, though Johnson worked out of the inning without any further damage. Freshman Dominic Walmsley came on in relief and threw 2.0 hitless innings before the game was called a draw.

In the opener, a five-run third inning cost the Mariners a chance at the win. Starter Tyler Shamas had two outs in the frame before giving up an RBI double that started the rally. He then issued four walks and hit a batter before leaving the game.

The Bishops didn't need all the run support, as starter Spencer Ramsey went the distance and allowed only one hit.

Mitchell will continue its spring trip in Florida at the Cusic Classic. The Mariners will next play a doubleheader against Salve Regina University on Saturday, March 8 at 1 p.m.