Neither wind, nor snow, nor 30 degree temperatures stopped the ETSU baseball team from winning its fourth straight in the series against the St. Peter’s College Peacocks yesterday in Cardinal Park.With this 6-5 victory, the Bucs improved their record to 6-1. They have won every game since dropping the season opener to The Citadel.

“I’m happy. It’s nice to be six and one but we’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve got to get better in all areas of the game,” said head coach Tony Skole afterwards.

Josh Means pitched well for the Bucs.

He held St. Peter to four scoreless innings before their first run in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Drew Story won his first game of the season for the Bucs in relief in the sixth inning.

Junior fielder Paul Hoilman contributed two of the Bucs’ six goals with a 2 RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth that pulled them away from the Peacocks. His run scored from third on the next wild pitch would turn out to be the winning run.

“I definitely have some opportunities in the middle of the lineup and it’s always fun to come through,” said Hoilman after the game.

The Bucs jumped out to a quick lead right from the start. Junior catcher Derek Trent had a one-out single to drive in a run, and then Hoilman scored on a sacrifice fly the next batter to make it 2-0 Bucs.

ETSU added another run in the second to pull the Bucs up 3-0. Then St. Peter started creeping its way back into the ball game. Peacocks’ sophomore infielder Cody Haack scored on a ground ball with one out in the bottom of the fifth to pull his team within two.

The fireworks really started going in the top of the sixth.

Again it was Cody Haack that provided the offensive spark for St. Peter with a two-RBI double on an error with no outs to pull the Peacocks even with the Bucs 3-3. Later in the inning they added another run to go ahead 3-4.

ETSU did not stay down for long. After the Peacock’s pitcher Joe Jimenez walked two straight, Paul Hoilman knocked one to deep center field to score two Bucs.

Jimenez threw a wild pitch on the next batter that let Hoilman score what would be the winning run for the Bucs at 6-4.

St. Peter inched one run closer, but ETSU junior Bo Burton made sure they got no closer. He ended the game by striking out pinch hitter Mike Schaff in the top of the ninth.

The Bucs travel to Asheville Wednesday to keep the winning streak alive against UNC Asheville.

For more information about the Bucs’ Baseball team visit www.etsubucs.com

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