SWCC Falls to Patrick & Henry in Region 10 West Division Series Opener

Game Recap: Baseball
2/14/2025 | Shaun Schetka

Cedar Bluff, VA- The Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) Flying Eagles (0-10, 0-2) opened their Region 10 West Division campaign with a tough two-game road series against Patrick & Henry Community College (7-3, 2-0). Despite an offensive surge in Game 1, costly errors proved too much to overcome, leading to an 11-6 defeat. Game 2 saw the Flying Eagles struggle at the plate, as the Patriots' pitching staff completed a no-hitter en route to a 3-0 victory.

Game 1: SWCC Falls Short Despite Offensive Outburst (L, 11-6 – 9 Innings)

The Flying Eagles came out swinging in the series opener, jumping to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Cason McInnis sparked the rally with a single to right, and after two quick outs, Damien Boyd kept the momentum alive with a single that moved McInnis to third. Max McGlothlin's high fly ball to first base led to an error, allowing McInnis to score. Ben Kilbourne followed with a single, setting the stage for Boyd to come home on a passed ball.

Starting pitcher Ayden Muliken (0-0) made his second start of the season but ran into trouble early. Patrick & Henry quickly erased the deficit, tying the game 2-2 with a two-run single, before adding another run to take a 3-2 lead after one.

Defensive miscues plagued SWCC in the third. With two outs, a throwing error at third allowed a baserunner to advance, followed by an infield miscue at shortstop that extended the inning and led to two unearned runs, pushing the Patriots' lead to 5-2.

SWCC clawed back in the fourth when Peyton Maines delivered a clutch two-run single, but the Patriots responded with back-to-back three-run innings in the fifth and seventh, stretching their lead to 11-4.

The Flying Eagles attempted a late rally in the eighth, as McGlothlin ripped an RBI triple and Kilbourne followed with a run-scoring single. However, the momentum was halted when Colt Tate was thrown out at home trying to score on a McInnis single.

Muliken took the loss, tossing 4.1 innings while surrendering eight runs (five earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts. Offensively, McInnis, Boyd, and Kilbourne each recorded two hits, while Maines led the team with two RBIs.

Game 2: SWCC No-Hit in 3-0 Loss (L, 3-0 – 7 Innings)

After an offensive spark in Game 1, the Flying Eagles' bats went ice-cold in Game 2, as they were no-hit by the Patriots' pitching staff.

Freshman Peyton Maines got the start but lasted just one inning. He hit the first batter of the game before retiring two, but a two-out double gave Patrick & Henry an early 1-0 lead.

Colten Tate took over in the second and pitched effectively, working a clean inning before allowing a two-out RBI double in the third that extended the Patriots' lead to 2-0. Patrick & Henry added an insurance run in the sixth after a hit batter stole second and came around to score on a single.

With Game 3 of the series canceled due to inclement weather, the Flying Eagles will look to regroup as they travel to Cleveland CC for a three-game series on Saturday, February 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.