JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — After one day of play at the Southern Collegiate Baseball League tournament, the Morganton Aggies defeated the Lake Norman Copperheads 9-3 and the Tennessee Tornado defeated the Carolina Stingers 8-4.
In Game 1, two of the best pitchers in the league squared off for three innings back and forth, but Morganton broke through against Kyle Teague in the fourth for five runs, capped off by a Tori Conley RBI double and a Zeke Blanton two-run single. Meanwhile, Kevin Bratcher worked a quality start, seven innings with six strikeouts while allowing two runs on four hits. Ricky Vaughn closed out the game, getting some offensive insurance in the ninth thanks to a Lake Norman error, a Samson Williams RBI single and a Zach Pou RBI double. Preston Lyon and Brad Hook also drove in runs toward the win.
In the nightcap, Todd Caldwell enjoyed an early lead for the Tornado as Sam Eberle, Topher Ellis and Steve Scoby drove in runs for a 3-0 lead after two innings. Caldwell took the lead through the fifth, when a two-run double by Jean Carlos Diaz increased it to 6-0. In the top of the sixth, however, the Stingers got on the board and then some, tagging Caldwell for three runs. Joe Mangum and Joaquin Valdes knocked back-to-back doubles to knock Caldwell out of the game. A strong Tornado bullpen would prevail, however, as Frank Newcomb shut down the rally, Jake Peeling held the eighth and Jason Trivette struck out the side in the ninth. Tennessee added insurance in the seventh on a double by Bart Roark, an RBI triple by Michael Hartley and a sacrifice fly by Ellis.
Today the tournament moves to Cardinal Park, where Game 3 features the Copperheads and Stingers at 4 p.m., followed by Game 4 between the Tornado and Aggies at 7 p.m.
