State scoreboard Sunday, Feb. 4

Bailey Faircloth got his first career win 
to help the Saints claim their season-opening
 series at Chowan. (Limestone photo) 

Player of the day: Bailey Faircloth, Limestone, W, 6 IP, 1 R, 11 K

Game of the day
Morris 5, Claflin 3, Game 1

The Hornets rallied from an early 3-1 deficit and pitcher Guillermo Morel thwarted Claflin's comeback efforts with a complete-game victory in the season-opener for both teams as Historic Mirmow Field in Orangeburg.

Morris took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the host Panthers pushed across three runs - two unearned - on three hits in the bottom of the frame.

Tijawan Black led off the Morris third with a double and Christopher Titus followed with an RBI single. Titus scored the tying run on a groundout later in the inning.

Morris got an unearned run in the fourth and a bases-loaded walk in the fifth made the score 5-3.

Morel allowed just two hits after the first inning and retired five of the final six batters he faced. He struck out seven.

Claflin pitcher Kyle Hawkins also pitched a complete game, scattering 10 hits while striking out  six.

Honorable mention game of the day
Claflin 5, Morris 0, Game 2
Roman Woods-Golston pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out six as the Panthers won the nightcap and matched their 2023 season wins total.

Seven batters had one hit each for Claflin, which did all its scoring in the third inning. Michael Coit was hit by a pitch to lead off.  He went to second on a balk and took third on Micah Shivers' bunt single back to the mound. A double-steal then got the Panthers on the board. Eric Sledge capped the outburst with a two-run single.

Morel singled and walked for Morris and was the only Hornets runner to get past second base.

 

Korique Rainey struck  out four in three innings of one-hit relief for Morris.

Claf-lines:  The shutout was the first for Claflin since April 13, 2019 at Clark Atlanta. The last complete-game shutout was by Makai Holloway at Tuskegee March 17, 2019. The last home shutout was a complete-game effort by Cleveland Westbrook against Lane March 16, 2018 ...   The stadium anniversary celebration included several off-field activities ... The facility was named for Edward Mirmow Sr., who was involved in the founding of American Legion baseball in Orangeburg. By chance, his son, Edward Mirmow Jr., died the day before the celebration ... Claflin was 1-41 last season, losing its first 31 games and its last 10 ... the Panthers play at Voorhees on Wednesday.

Hornet heaters: Black had four hits ... Morris opens its home schedule with a 2 p.m. Tuesday doubleheader against Morehouse at Riley Park.

Elsewhere: Bailey Faircloth allowed a run on two hits and struck out 11 in six innings in Game 1 and Limestone took the lead for good in the nightcap with two unearned runs ... Donovan Ford's two-run double in the fifth inning gave Newberry the lead and the Wolves held on the clinch the series finale against Francis Marion ...  North Carolina recruit Rom Kellis had three hits and drove in four runs as Florence-Darlington Tech held on to win its finale in the Visit Panama City Beach JUCO Classic. The Stingers built an early 11-2 lead before Wabash Valley rallied ...  The top four hitters in the lineup combined for 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 runs and 6 RBI as Spartanburg Methodist completed a sweep of Paul D. Camp ... Joe Sperry had a double, two homers and five RBI as USC Lancaster opened the home portion of its schedule by taking the final game of a series with Catawba Valley ...  East Georgia won a pair from USC Sumter for the second straight day, this time spoiling the Fire Ants' home opener ... UNC Pembroke wrapped up a weekend sweep of USC Aiken.

East Georgia 6, USC Sumter 3, Game 1 - Sum: J.T. Popick 2-3, BB, SB, RBI

East Georgia 6, USC Sumter 1, Game 2 - Sum: Israel May 2B, R
Limestone 6, Chowan 1, Game 1 - Lim: Davis Turner 2-5, 2 RBI
Limestone 7, Chowan 2, Game 2 - Lim: Sion Barnette 1B, BB, 2 SF, 2 RBI, R
Morris 5, Claflin 3, Game 1 - Mor: Guillermo Morel CG, 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 K

Claflin 5, Morris 0, Game 2  - Cla: Eric Sledge 1B, BB, 2 RBI

Newberry 4, Francis Marion 2 - New: Rhett Jolly 1B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 SB, Runner CS, Runner PO

Spartanburg Methodist 10, Paul D. Camp 0, 7 innings - Spa: Blake Martin 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB
UNC Pembroke 8, USC Aiken 3 - Aik: Joseph Mozingo 1B, 2B, RBI

USC Lancaster 15, Catawba Valley 8 - Lan: Chandler Smithart 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI

Panama City Beach (Fla.) JUCO Classic
Publix Sportsplex
Florence-Darlington Tech 12, Wabash Valley 10 - Flo: Josh Campos 1B, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Chattahoochee Valley 8, Andrew 3
Chipola 9, Florida Southwestern 5
Dyersburg 6, McLennan 4
Pearl River 14, Miami Dade 0
State College of Florida 11, St. John's River 5

Championship

Gulf Coast 12, Wallace Dothan 2

Canceled
Northwest Florida vs. Meridian

(11/55)