by Zack Ciboth Editor-In-Chief
The UNC Pembroke baseball team kept their hot start to the 2025 season going with a series sweep of the Shepard Rams taking the third and final game of the series with a 7-2 win. The game was played at Francis Marion University in Florence S.C. due to ongoing construction at UNCP’s home field.
The Braves got things going in the bottom of the second with a Blake Hinson RBI single that brought Hayden Davis across home plate for the early 1-0 lead. Shepard responded with a run of their own in the top of the third inning with an RBI single from Bodie Pullen tying the game up at 1-1.
After going scorelss in the bottom half of the third we headed to the fourth still tied at 1-1 until Collin Ahart knocked an RBI single up the middle to bring in a runner to give the Rams the 2-1 lead.
Both sides went scoreless in both the fifth and sixth inning as we headed to the seventh for the final innings down the stretch. In the bottom half of the seventh the Braves offense got back to work quickly.
A bases loaded walk by the Braves offense tied the game up at 2-2. Landon Lucas drew another base loaded walk that gave the Braves back the lead at 3-2. Blake Hinson brought in a run on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded as well that added on to make it 4-2. After three straight bases loaded walks.
Ashton Donathan hit into a fielder’s choice and reached safely bringing in Lucas from third to pad the Braves lead at 5-2. Isaias Villarreal closed out the Braves scoring with a single to make it 6-2 and closed things out for the win as well.
Michael Burnley got the start on the mound for the Rams pitching 5.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out two batters and walking one. Oliver Leonard was the third reliver to come in for the Rams and took the loss.
Leonard went 0.1 innings allowing two runs on one hit while recording one strikeout and walked two batters.
Jonathan Jacobs got the start for the Braves going 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, faning three batters and walking two. Lucas came in for relief and picked up the winning decision pitching 3.0 innings allowing two hits, three strikeouts and one.
The Braves will be back in action tomorrow for a middle week game against Mercy at 3 p.m. The Game will be played at Ripken Park in Myrtle Beach S.C.