Box Score

GREER, SC – Ernie Ruch's triple in the bottom of the eighth sparked a three-run rally to close within a run of the Virginia State Trojans, but it wouldn't be enough as Mansfield fell with a final score of 5-4 Sunday afternoon in the Mounties final game in Greer, SC.

After a scoreless first, the Trojans' Joshua Markins hit a two-run homer over the right field wall to give Virginia State a 2-0 lead.

VSU struck again in the third when Markins hit a bases clearing double to bring in three more runs for the Trojans. Markins went three-for-four in the contest with five RBI and a run.

Mansfield answered back in the bottom of the inning as junior Jon Taddeo scored via a Matt Fisher sacrifice fly to left field. Taddeo went one-for-two on the day with two walks and a run while Fisher went one-for-four with an RBI.

The Mounties threatened late with Ruch's one-out triple followed by a Jon Moser walk in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Steven Stopper brought Ruch home on a single through the left side and put Levi Weiskopff, the pinch runner for Moser, at second.

Stopper went two-for-four with a run and a RBI in the game.

Advancing to second and third on a wild pitch, Weiskopff and Stopper both scored on a Conor Thompson double to left field to put Mansfield within striking distance. The Mountaineer rally ended with two straight fly outs.

Senior Andy Young, who was called from the bullpen in the 8^th, got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 9^th to put the Mounties in position for a come-from-behind win.

Junior Dylan Woodworth hit a lead-off single to left then stole second to move into scoring position, but Virginia State retired the next three batters to secure the win.

Freshman Nicholas Christopher earned the win pitching five innings giving up two hits, one run and five walks while striking out five batters.

Junior Joel Worthington earned the loss giving up five hits and five earned runs in 3.0 innings while sitting down two batters. Junior Curtis Harpster and Young pitched a combined six innings in relief for the Mountaineers. Each gave up just one hit apiece while Harpster struck out four batters and Young two.

Woodworth went two-for-four in the game with a walk.

Mansfield recorded eight hits to the Trojans seven, but the Mounties stranded nine runners on the basepaths.

Mansfield travels to Flemington, NJ to face UMass Lowell on March 3^rd and 4^th.