Greenville pounds Hillcrest, splits with Monroe

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 17, 2006

Greenville rebounded from a three-game slide to win three of its last four games on Friday and Saturday at Beeland Park.

The Tigers easily swept overmatched Hillcrest-Evergreen Friday and then split with Monroe County on Saturday.

Greenville scored 37 runs in the two games, which were just five-inning affairs, against the visiting Jaguars. The Tigers (6-4) clobbered Hillcrest 17-3 in the first and 20-9 in the second game.

Allen Little earned the victory on the mound for Greenville in Game 1 allowing three hits and three walks, while striking out six in five innings of work.

The Tigers offense, which was virtually nonexistent in the FCA Tournament in Montgomery, came back to life by scattering 11 hits in the game and earning three walks off of the Jaguars' pitchers.

Jake Newton led Greenville at the plate with three singles and three runs scored, while Lynn Lewis sparked a 4-run first inning with a three-run home run in the frame followed by another hit.

David Stephenson also had two hits.

Greenville added four more runs in the second and closed out the victory by scoring eight runs in the fourth.

The Tigers' bats continued to stay hot in Game 2 of the twinbill on Friday by pounding out 20 hits in their 20-9 victory over Hillcrest.

Josh Longmire led Greenville at the plate going 4-for-4. Zac Smith followed with a single and two doubles. Lewis also was 3-for-3 at the plate with a double.

Tremaine Brewer added two hits as well as Newton.

Starting pitcher Antonio Smith also helped his own cause with two hits, including a double. Smith pitched all four innings for the Tigers allowing four hits and four walks, while striking out six.

Greenville put this game away early on after Hillcrest jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Tigers answered by scoring 10 runs with the first eight batters coming around to score. The rout was on from there.

Greenville won its third game in a row, 3-2, Saturday morning by holding off a late rally by Monroe County.

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Lewis pitching a seemingly perfect game until Monroe drew within a run in the fifth.

Monroe County then had a chance to tie the game up in the seventh inning with a baserunner on third with one out. Lewis then tallied his eighth strikeout of the game for out No. 2 and forced a fly ball to center to close out the victory for Greenville.

Lewis finished the day allowing four hits, two walks and two earned runs in seven innings of work.

In game two of the doubleheader Saturday, the Tigers saw their winning streak fade away after committing six errors in an 8-7 loss to Monroe County.

Greenville was clinging to a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth inning when the wheels fell off for the Tigers.

Monroe County scored four runs on three hits and three Tiger errors to take the lead for good.

Greenville managed to battle back by scoring a run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh, but the Tigers left one man in scoring position stranded to end the game.

Stephenson went the distance on the mound for Greenville giving up 10 hits, while striking out five.

Marcus Mickles was the Tigers' leading hitter going 2-for-4.