March 13, 2005

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114 / Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023/ (901) 489-4771

SOUTHWEST BASEBALL TEAM TAKES TWO OF THREE FROM MOTLOW STATE

The Southwest baseball team won two out of three games over the weekend against Motlow State in a TJCCAA series at Tony Gagliano Memorial Field. The Saluqis defeated Motlow 16-3 on Friday afternoon, and then split a doubleheader on Saturday, winning the first game 9-8 and losing the second game 18-9.

In the series opener on Friday, Clay Wright went 3 for 4 with a home run and five runs batted in for Southwest as the Saluqis pounded out 13 hits. In addition to Wright, several other Saluqis had outstanding games at the plate, including Chris Rogers (2 for 2, double, triple, 3 RBI), Phillip White (2 for 4, 3 RBI), and Jeremy Finney (2 for 4). Pitcher Shane Jackson improved his record to 4-1 on the season, scattering seven hits, allowing no earned runs, and striking out nine batters in seven innings.

In a game in which the lead changed hands four times, Southwest finally prevailed in the bottom of the seventh inning when Brendan Murphy led off the inning with a single, then was replaced by pinch runner Brad Tillman. Tillman advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rogers, and then later scored on Wright’s base hit to give Southwest the win. The Saluqis also had 13 hits in this game, led by Wright (3 for 4), Murphy (2 for 4), Finney (2 for 4), and Brit Vincent (2 for 4).

The Saluqis’ record now stands at 13-11 overall and 6-6 in the TJCCAA. The baseball team’s next game will be on Tuesday, March 15 against Itawamba Community College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at USA Stadium in Millington. Southwest returns to conference play this weekend, March 18-19, in a three-game series against Roane State in Harriman, Tennessee. Friday’s single game will begin at 2 p.m. (EST), followed by a noon (EST) doubleheader on Saturday.