VIDEO: Logan Cogburn Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Logan Cogburn hurled five scoreless stanzas to lead 22nd-ranked Carson-Newman to a 9-4 victory over Virginia-Wise in a sloppy Tuesday afternoon affair at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
For the first time since April 7, 2008, the Eagles check in in the National Collegiate Baseball Coaches Association poll ranking 22nd this week. The Eagles were 23rd on April 7 and 19th on March 17.
"We are satisfied for the players because they are the ones that do everything," Carson-Newman coach Tom Griffin said. "They have to do everything on a day-to-day basis. Anytime you get something like that does it matter? No, but I think for the kids it's something that's important. It gives them a reward for what they have done.
"It doesn't mean anything. We just have to make sure we keep getting better. Today, we were sloppy. We dropped fly balls. We misplayed routine balls that we were clean on. I know that happens. That's baseball but I just felt like it was sloppy today. We let them dictate the game to us."
Cogburn pitched a season-high five frames allowing three hits and two walks while striking out a pair leaving five on base through his time on the rubber.
"It felt great," Cogburn said. "Coach always says to pound the box and be efficient through everything you do. I felt like I really took that with me and it gave me leeway. That's the attitude here at Carson-Newman. You are going to be tested but you have to power through."
The game featured nine errors, five from Vriginia-Wise (0-7) and a season-high four from Carson-Newman (11-3) including three dropped pop ups.
In the ninth all-time meeting, C-N wins for the eighth time including in each of the last six affairs while improving to a flawless 7-0 inside of the friendly confines.
After Landon Faulkner struck out the side in the first inning, Trevor Nevill's first pitch of the second was a fastball over the plate that Jordan Griffin (Ellersie, Ga.) launched over the wall in left-center field to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. C-N loaded the bases with no one out but a 1-2-3 double play and bouncer back to the bump ended the threat.
SEE. YOU. LATER. @JordanIcGriffin plays long ball for the second time this season and C-N takes an early advantage on a solo shot! ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 19, 2019
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Two errors played a factor in the Eagles adding three runs to the lead to swell the margin to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. A throwing error on a bunt brought home Ethan Goforth (Blacksburg, Va.). C-N loaded the bases with one out for Michael Wroth (Chicopee, Mass.). The junior split the gap in right center for a double but Griffin was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
Leading off the top of the sixth inning, Tyler Blaum hit a ball over the fence in right field for the first home run of the season hit by the Cavaliers. Following a check swing liner back to the mound, a single and walk put two on with one out. Brock Smith hit a rocket that took a high hop over the Wroth at third into left field. Brendan Campbell (Yardley, Pa.) misplayed the ball in left field allowing two runners to score and pull the Cavaliers within a run at 4-3.
Carson-Newman batted around in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring five times to go on top 9-3. Goforth worked the count to 3-1 to start the inning before cranking a homer over the left-field wall. Griffin notched an RBI single to center field and came in to score after being caught in a rundown between third and home stealing home. A wild pitch and a fielding error capped the scoring.
��⚾️ SAYONARA! @EthanG_3 drills one to left-center for his fourth dinger of 2019 ��
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 19, 2019
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The Cavaliers loaded the bases with no one out but settled for just one run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. A punch out and fielder's choice ground out ended the threat.
Each of the top seven in the C-N lineup reached base at least one time with three producing multi-hit efforts. Griffin went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Alan Silva (Sevierville, Tenn.) tallied his first-career multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
The Cavaliers used nine different pitchers with none throwing more than a complete inning as Trevor Nevill took the loss allowing the first run in the second stanza.
At the plate, Blaum, Tristan Peccerelli and David Thomas each had a pair of pokes for the visitors.
The Eagles tee it up again this weekend against Davis & Elkins starting with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon. All four games will air on the Eagle Sports Network.
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