Solid pitching and timely hitting helped the Gators post a 6-3 victory over Caldwell Community College on Friday, March 29, in the opener of a three-game series at War Memorial Stadium.
Tyler Stobbs drove in a run in the first inning on a groundout for a 1-0 lead. After the visitors from Hudson, N.C., scored two in the second, Jayden Alvarez put VPCC back in front with a two-run single in the fifth. Caldwell tied the game in the seventh, but the Gators again responded.
VPCC took a 4-3 lead on an error, and Marco Fernandez gave the Gators some insurance with a two-run double. Alvarez finished with two hits, two runs and three RBI.
On the mound, Garett Hedgepeth went the first five innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Brendan Walker followed with three strong innings to earn the win. He gave up one hit, one earned run and struck out three. Wilson Estep pitched a hitless ninth to earn the save.
Unfortunately, Caldwell bounced back with an 8-4 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. The Cobras broke open a close game with a six-run fifth. The Gators responded with three runs in the seventh, but fell short.
Isaiah Bracey had three hits, and Alvarez and Stobbs added two each. Aidan Knoop held Caldwell hitless in the sixth and seventh innings.
Caldwell closed out the three-game series with a 6-2 victory Saturday, scoring three runs in the second for an early lead. After the Gators scored twice in the third, including an RBI by Alvarez, the Cobras responded with single runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings.
Brandon Drewry had a pair of singles for the Gators. Cody Myers threw two strong innings for VPCC, giving up no runs and two hits.
This week, the Gators have a doubleheader Saturday, April 6, against New River Community College, followed by another doubleheader the next day at Frederick Community College (Md.) on Sunday, April 7. First pitch each day is set for 1 p.m.
Track and field
The team’s next meet is April 5-6 at Norfolk State. Following that, the Gators will participate in a meet at CNU on April 19-20, and finish their first season of competition at Virginia State University on April 27.
For more information on VPCC and its athletics programs, visit www.vpcc.edu.