Rhinos drop low-scoring game to division rival

Gaston College dropped its second straight Region 10 Division II baseball game Wednesday, but coach Shon Doty has confidence the Rhinos can rebound from their first adversity of the season.

Cleveland Community College pitchers Parker Kanupp and Matias Marchesini combined on a four-hit, 11-strikeout performance in the Yetis' 3-1 home victory over the Rhinos, who are ranked in the top three of all three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II polls.

After losing to Guilford Tech 13-12 Sunday in a slugfest, the Rhinos found themselves in a low-scoring affair against a division rival.

"Sunday, we didn't pitch it, and today we didn't hit it much," summed up Doty. "We need to see how we bounce back. I have a lot of faith in our guys, and I think we will."

Kanupp went the first six innings for CCC, and he pitched out of a major jam in the third inning by recording an inning-ending strikeout with runners at second and third.

Marchesini relieved the CCC ace in the seventh and turned in three shutout innings, giving up one hit. 

After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Gaston College tied the game in the fifth on Miller St. John's sacrifice fly RBI.

However, the Yetis went up 2-1 in the bottom of that inning on an infield groundout and added an insurance run in the sixth on Robert Moya's leadoff home run to center field.

The Rhinos (33-4, 23-2 Region 10 West Division) had baserunners in the final three innings but could not push across another run.

"We had opportunities, but we didn't move the baseball," Doty said. "We have to get back to doing the things that make us good, which is cutting down on our strikeouts, moving the baseball, continuing to get on base, and using the running game."

Despite stealing seven bases for the game, Gaston College left eight baserunners stranded.

Rhinos starting pitcher Konni Durschlag pitched 24 outs in going the distance. The first-year right-hander allowed six hits, struck out nine, and issued three walks.

"Konni gives us a chance to win every time he goes out," Doty said of Durschlag. "He did that again today. We just could not get the big hit."

Enrique Wood went 2-for-4 to lead the Rhinos at the plate. Kyras Dawson (2-for-3) and Chris DeVarona (2-for-3) collected multiple hits for the Yetis.

The next action for the Rhinos is a three-game series this weekend at Sims Legion Park against division foe Southwest Virginia. The opener is Friday at 6 p.m., and a Saturday doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.