Gaston College splits doubleheader in first Region 10 series of the 2023 season

Gaston College's Region 10-opening doubleheader on Friday at USC Sumter put the Rhinos through a range of emotions.

Coach Mike Steuerwald's team went through the frustration of wasting an early 8-0 lead in a 16-10 loss in the opener before they bounced back with an emphatic 11-0 victory in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

"It was just a really disappointing first game for us," said Steuerwald, whose team returns to action for a Sunday 1 p.m. Region 10 doubleheader at USC Union. "So it was good to get back on track and get ready to roll on Sunday against Union."

The Rhinos banged out 21 hits in the doubleheader with seven of the nine starters collecting two or more hits led by Asheton Queen (5 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles, triple), Gabrielle Porterfield (3 hits, 2 RBIs, double), Brantleigh Parrott (3 hits, 2 RBIs, double, triple), Logan Lilly (3 hits) and Grace Manning (3 hits, 2 RBIs, double).

Also, Parrott continued her pitching mastery with a 3-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and no walks in the nightcap. Named National Junior College Athletic Association Division I pitcher of the week, Parrott improved to 7-0 with two saves, a 0.00 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 40 innings this season.

Steuerwald hopes the opening defeat can provide a lesson for his team.

The Rhinos were ahead 8-4 after 3 1-2 innings before yielding a 12-run bottom of the frame to lose the lead and control of the game.

"We just imploded there," he said. "We couldn't make play, we couldn't get an out and we couldn't throw a strike.
"It was just a poorly executed game from our end, especially the pitching staff."

In the second game, Gaston College scored twice in the first and four times in the second inning, which means the Rhinos scored 14 runs in the first two innings of the two contests.

"From our end, we want to get to the expectation of winning the game every time we step on the field," Steuerwald said. "I think the offense came out in Game 2 like they did in Game 1. We just didn't hold it in Game 1."