Wake Tech Spoils Flying Eagles Opening Home Series
Series Recap: Baseball
3/3/2025 | Shaun Schetka
Game 1: Wake Tech Rolls Past SWCC, 14-4
It was a tough day at the ballpark for Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) baseball as Wake Tech took control early and never looked back in a 14-4 loss on Saturday.
Wake Tech got on the board in the second inning, capitalizing on an error to scratch across a run. They added to their lead in the third when Ciprano crushed a two-run homer to center.
The game got out of hand in the fifth, with Wake Tech exploding for seven runs on three hits. Mooring launched a three-run homer, Gaffney knocked in a run with a single, Schultz added a sacrifice fly, Steiner walked with the bases loaded, and a passed ball allowed another run to score.
On the mound, Slep picked up the win for Wake Tech, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) over four innings. Brayden Dilday took the loss for the flying eagles, giving up seven runs (five earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings while striking out four.
Kensley Joachim led the SWCC offense with two RBIs, finishing 1-for-2. Cason McInnis had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3.
For Wake Tech, Ciprano and Gaffney were a dangerous duo, each collecting two hits. Ciprano led the way with four RBIs on a 2-for-3 performance. Rickabaigh showed patience at the plate, drawing two walks as Wake Tech totaled eight for the game.
Game 2: McInnis' Big Day Not Enough as SWCC Falls 20-6
Cason McInnis had himself a day, going 4-for-4, but it wasn't enough as SWCC fell 20-6 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
McInnis got things rolling early, doubling in the second and adding three singles throughout the game. His second-inning double put the flying eagles on the board, followed by a two-run single from Damien Boyd.
The home team added two more runs in the third thanks to another McInnis RBI single. But Wake Tech flipped the script in the fourth, scoring seven runs on six hits, with Gaffney delivering the biggest blow—a two-run double—to take a 9-5 lead.
Wake Tech kept pouring it on in the sixth, tacking on nine more runs behind big hits from Mooring, McIntire, Mathews, and Rickabaugh.
McDonald earned the win for Wake Tech, allowing five runs (two earned) over three innings with five strikeouts. Ayden Muliken took the loss for SWCC, giving up six runs on five hits in 3.2 innings.
SWCC finished with 10 hits, including multi-hit games from Boyd and Colt Tate. Meanwhile, Wake Tech's offense was relentless, racking up 18 hits. Gaffney, Mooring, and Mayes each tallied three hits, while Wake Tech also flexed its speed, swiping three bases.
Game 3: Wake Tech Runs Away with Series Finale, 22-4
SWCC kept it close early but Wake Tech's offense proved too much to handle in a 22-4 rout on Sunday.
Wake Tech got on the board quickly, plating two runs in the first and another in the third. The Flying Eagles responded in the fourth, tying the game 3-3 behind RBI singles from Harrison Felger and Cason McInnis, plus runs forced in by walks from Graham Irvin and Damien Boyd.
But the tie didn't last long. Wake Tech took control in the fifth, exploding for six runs on five hits, fueled by an error that allowed two runs to score.
The seventh inning was the final dagger, with Wake Tech piling on 10 more runs on seven hits. Mayes, Mooring, McIntire, Hendrick, McDonald, Parris, and Mason all contributed RBIs, while two bases-loaded walks added to the damage.
Warnock picked up the win for Wake Tech, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Peyton Maines took the loss for SWCC, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 3.2 innings.
McInnis was a bright spot for the flying eagles, going 3-for-4. Felger, McInnis, Irvin, and Boyd each drove in a run.
Wake Tech's lineup was unstoppable, racking up 21 hits. Mooring, McIntire, Mayes, and Penner each collected three hits, while Mooring and Mason drove in three runs apiece. Rickabaugh showed discipline at the plate with two walks, and Wake Tech's defense was flawless, committing zero errors.
Looking Ahead: SWCC will look to bounce back when they host Louisburg College for a three game series, beginning on Saturday March 8th with first pitch at 1:00 PM at the SWCC Baseball field.