Gaston College sweeps Caldwell Tech in Wednesday doubleheader

Grace Manning delivered a walk-off RBI single through the middle to seal Gaston College's 12-4 win in five innings over Caldwell Tech Tuesday at CaroMont Health Park.

The victory gave the Rhinos (15-3) a doubleheader sweep over a neighboring rival and sends the team into Region 10 Division I opening play this weekend with a surge of momentum.

In one of its most impressive offensive showings of the season, Gaston College pounded out 15 hits and got strong support from the bottom half of the lineup.

No. 8 hitter Haylee Salter went 3-3 with an RBI, and ninth place batter Grace Brown collected two hits in three at-bats, scored two runs and drove in one.

At the top of the order, shortstop Asheton Queen went 3-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and four runs scored. The South Point High product barely missed a home run in the fourth inning with a drive that hit the top of the fence in left field.

"I think I am usually the lead hitter because I can get a bunt down or find some way of getting on to start something for us," Queen said.

Other players with multiple hits were Manning (3-3, two RBIs), Brantleigh Parrott (2-4, two RBIs) and Serena Yalich (2-3, two RBIs).

In addition to the offensive boost lower in the lineup, the Rhinos benefited from solid starting pitching in both games, a development that gave relief pitcher Parrott a day off from the circle.

Second game starter Amiya Tomlinson put together three consecutive scoreless innings in going the distance in the shortened game. She allowed four runs on six hits while striking out three and walking none.

"Amiya (Tomlinson) did a great job in locking in after that first inning and throwing a lot of zeroes up on the board," Rhinos coach Mike Steuerwald said. "We challenged both of (our starting pitchers) that we can be a little bit better in those three outs and have clean innings. Both of them threw the ball well."

In the opener, the Cobras broke out of the gate fast, pushing across four runs in the top of the first inning and capitalizing on two errors by the Rhinos.

However, Gaston College answered with two runs in its half of the first, plated another in the third and grabbed the lead with a three-run fourth inning.

The Rhinos pulled away by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The big hits were an RBI single by McKenzie Plaskin and a double by pitcher Tessa Hunt, who helped her own cause by driving in two runs.

Plaskin went a perfect 2-2 with four RBIs to lead the Gaston College offense. Hunt (1-1, two RBIs) and Logan Lilly (1-3, two RBIs) were other top contributors.

Hunt went the distance in the circle, giving up eight hits while striking out four and walking one.
Kaylee Redwine went 2-3 to lead Caldwell Community College.

The Rhinos' 4-0 road record will be tested with a busy weekend of Region 10 games, starting with a doubleheader Friday at USC-Sumter (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and another twinbill Sunday at USC-Union (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.).