WISE - - No. 16 Newberry finished off a three-game sweep of host UVA Wise with an 8-6 South Atlantic Conference baseball win at Stallard Field Monday. Aidan Baur went 3-for-5 with four RBI to pace a 12-hit effort for the victorious Wolves who have now won 18 of the season's first 22 games.
Newberry (18-4, 6-2 SAC) played from in front all day long. The Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on Colin Allman's two-run double.
An inning later, UVA Wise (10-10, 3-5 SAC) cut the lead without hitting the ball out of the infield. Senior Gabe Wurtz laid down a bunt base hit up the third base line before moving to second on a passed ball. After Tyler Horvath advanced Wurtz to third with a groundout, the centerfielder scampered home on a wild pitch.
Baur belted a two-run homer in the third to make it a 4-1 game before his two-run single in the fifth was part of a three-run frame that gave Newberry a 7-1 lead after five innings of play.
The Cavaliers cut into the deficit in the sixth on a two-run homer by Wurtz before Tyler Campbell singled in two runs in the seventh and Wurtz doubled in a run during the inning to make it 7-6 after seven innings.
Luke Orr provided an insurance run for Newberry as he singled home Ward Hacklen in the eighth.
Hank Banner's club would put a fight in in the ninth as Ethan Fletcher walked to lead off the inning before moving to third two batters later on a base hit by Tyler Blaum. Relief pitcher Josh Stempihar would strikeout Campbell for the second out of the inning before Blaum moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch.
With the tying run at second and with Wurtz stepping to the plate representing the winning run, Stempihar would become the first Wolves pitcher of the day to retire the senior as he got Wurtz to fly out to left centerfield for the game's final out.
Newberry starter Ryan Harbin moved to 3-0 as he struck out seven while allowing three runs (two earned) over six innings of work. The hurler scattered four hits and hit a man in his 95 pitch effort. The save was the second of the season for Stempihar.
Wurtz finished the day 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. The outfielder finished a triple shy of the cycle as he singled, doubled twice and homered as part of his big day. Blaum added two hits in four at bats in a losing effort.
UVA Wise will be back in action Wednesday against King in a non-conference tilt, first pitch from Stallard Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.
