Smiddy, Stuart combine for strong outing; Bucs attempt ninth inning rally

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 31, 2023) – Friday’s game at Thomas Stadium was low-scoring and tightly-contested, as the ETSU baseball team attempted a ninth-inning rally and stranded the tying run in scoring position to end a 3-2 loss to Seton Hall in Johnson City. 

The Bucs and Pirates dueled with a quartet of strong outings on the mound. ETSU was represented by Landon Smiddy (Knoxville, Tenn.) who threw 100 pitches in a quality start — allowing three runs over 6.0 innings. Following him was fifth-year senior Colby Stuart (Elon, N.C.) who hurled a tremendous outing to keep the Pirates at bay. He went 3.0 scoreless innings with only one runner reaching via hit.

While Stuart kept the deficit at 3-0 during his outing, the Buccaneer offense began to come alive. It all started in the eighth inning with back-to-back singles by Noah Webb (Kodak, Tenn.) and Ashton King (Knoxville, Tenn.) to put runners on the corners. This would end the day for Seton Hall’s Nick Payero, who went 7.0 innings without a run allowed up until that point.

With Jay Allmer on in relief for the Pirates, second baseman Justin Hanvey (Purcellville, Va.) skied a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Webb to make it 3-1. A fielding error — the only blunder in an otherwise strong defensive day for both teams — allowed ETSU to put two on with one out. A 5-3 double play ended the threat and kept the score at 3-1.

Stuart retired the Pirates in order to start the ninth inning, setting up an exciting finish as the rain began to sprinkle and fans fled for cover near the concourse and in the seats behind home plate. The half inning started with a double down the left field line by Cody Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y.) — his second hit of the day. After that, Seton Hall left fielder Will Gale made perhaps a game-saving play, laying out for a tough catch to rob Cameron Sisneros (Littleton, Colo.) of a multi-base hit and force Miller to tag up instead of scoring. Miller moved up to third on the play and then scored on an RBI groundout by Garett Wallace (Sanford, Fla.) hit toward third base.

With two outs in the inning, Nick Iannantone (Plainfield, Ill.) was hit by a pitch and Webb drew a walk to put the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on base. A groundout to second base ended the threat and the game.

Miller — who reached on his trademark bunt in the first inning to go with his late double — extended his hit streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 14 games. Wallace, Sisneros and Ashton King (Knoxville, Tenn.) also had a hit, with Wallace extending a 16-game on-base streak.

PITCHERS OF RECORD

Win – Nick Payero (2-1)

Loss – Landon Smiddy (3-4)

Save – Jay Allmer (1)

TEAM RECORDS

ETSU: 12-12

Seton Hall: 11-12

ON DECK

The Bucs look to even the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Thomas Stadium. 

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