Barnesville, Ga. – After splitting an opening doubleheader at Gordon State on Saturday, Wabash Valley won the rubber game on Sunday to earn the series win over the Highlanders.
The Warriors, ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA poll, improved to 5-1 on the season with the win. Gordon State fell to 2-5.
In the opener, just when Wabash Valley thought it had finally gained control of a wild contest, carrying a 13-10 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, Gordon State scored twice to narrow the deficit to one run. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, the Highlanders scored twice again to walk off the win on a two-out RBI single to the right side by Cole Phillips that scored Jamel Rookard with the winning run in a 14-13 victory.
WVC bounced back in the Saturday nitecap, using the long ball early before rallying later for a 9-5 win.
The Warriors put an exclamation point on the series in the Sunday finale, adding to their 4-3 lead with a nine-run outburst in the sixth inning and an eventual 14-3 win.
"There were some valuable teaching moments in this series," said veteran Warrior coach Rob Fournier after it was over. "We responded really well from an extremely poorly played first game and dominated the rest of the series against a good Gordon State team."
Fournier, in his 25th year at the helm, stands at the doorstep of a coaching milestone. Now with 999 career wins, Fournier has a chance to pick up No 1,000 at home this Saturday against Heartland (0-0), scheduled for a 12-noon single game at Kieffer Development Field.
Third baseman Freylin Minyety had perhaps the best series at the plate for the Warriors. He went 7-for-11, with one home run and four RBIs.
Other big games came from shortstop Jonathan Nieves, who after going 3-for-5 in the opener (including the other WVC homer of the weekend), followed that up with a 2-for-3, three RBI middle game.
First baseman Ryan McCoy came up big in the first game, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Then in the nitecap, he was a model of perseverance at the plate. Hitless in five at bats, he nonetheless managed three RBIs via two ground outs and reaching once on an infield error.
Scott Harper picked up the win in the second game, hurling three scoreless innings in relief of starter Jason Bollman. Harper struck out six and did not walk anyone during his stint.
The win in the finale went to Connor Oliver, who came on in relief of Keegan Batka in the fourth. Over the next 3 2/3 innings, Batka walked four batters but did not give a hit or run while fanning six batters.
The Highlanders have now played five straight games against NJCAA Top 5 teams. Before hosting WVC, the Highlanders dropped two games to third-ranked Chipola, Florida (4-0 and 3-0).
Through six games, Minyety leads the way in hitting with a .500 average (10-of-20). Knox Preston and Nieves are other regulars who are at or over the .400 mark at this early juncture.
Curtis Washington, Jr., who was named the NJCAA Player of the Week last week, is next at .391, but continues to lead the club in home runs (3) and RBIs (10).