Asbill tosses complete-game shutout, Eagles sweep doubleheader

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 6, 2023) — After losing three of their last four, TCC got back to winning ways on Monday afternoon, taking down the Grand Rapids Raiders in both games of their doubleheader. The Eagles improved to 15-6 on the season and 12-2 at home. They have one game left at South Georgia State before conference play begins next week. 

Asbill shines in game one

Austin Asbill (LHP, Fresh.) was tapped to start the first game of Monday's doubleheader, his third start of the season. He's coming off a performance against Coastal Alabama - East in which he started and pitched seven innings, but gave up five runs, only four of which were earned, and the team lost 9-7. Head coach Bryan Henry went to him again on Monday and it was Asbill's best outing of the season. 

Asbill got through the first four innings without allowing a hit. The only baserunners the Raiders had came from a pair of walks in the first inning. Asbill would allow a few more baserunners in the late innings, and two Raiders recorded hits, but none of them came around to score and he finished with a seven-inning complete game shutout. He is now 2-0 on the season with a 4.45 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 32.1 innings pitched. 

TCC scored four runs on just three hits the entire game, and their first run came in the first inning without recording a hit. Marco Dinges (C/OF, Soph.) and Ziggy Thomas (OF, RS-Soph.) started the bottom of the first by drawing back-to-back walks and after they both moved into scoring position, Nick Smith (1B, Fresh.) drove in Dinges on a ground out to the shortstop. Of the four runs scored, the only one that came on a hit was when Brennan Baker (RHP/OF, RS-Fresh.) singled home Gregory Melo (INF, Fresh.) in the bottom of the fourth. 

Barrage of runs carries TCC in game two

The second game of Monday's doubleheader was called after just 4.5 innings, with the Eagles winning 16-2. TCC recorded 12 hits on just four trips to the plate. Ziggy Thomas went 3-4 with 2 RBI, he now has 12 on the season. 

Carter Stanford (RHP, Fresh.) got the start but threw just 0.2 innings before making way for Brett Gwinn (RHP/1B, Soph.). Gwinn pitched the next 3.1 innings allowing no hits, walking one, and striking out one en route to picking up his first win of the season. 

The Eagles scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth and the game was called after Harper McLendon (RHP, Soph.) kept Grand Rapids off the board in the fifth. 

One last tune-up

TCC travels to Waycross, Georgia on Friday to take on South Georgia State. The Eagles opened up the season with a home doubleheader against the Hawks, winning both. This is their final game before starting Panhandle Conference play on Monday against Chipola in Marianna. Chipola will look to defend their Panhandle Conference Championship. TCC finished second in the conference last season, advancing to the Regional round of the FCSAA/NJCAA South Atlantic District Tournament where they lost to the eventual champions Central Florida.