The North Carolina Wesleyan baseball team spoiled the Old Westbury Panthers' season-opening double header with a 5-3, 5-2 sweep this afternoon. With the two wins, Wesleyan improves to 9-6 on the season and has won three straight, while the Panthers fall to 0-2 overall.
In game one, North Carolina Wesleyan took an early lead, scoring one run in each of the first two innings. The Panthers tied the game in the sixth inning, as Ramon Geronimo drove in one run in the third inning and hit his first homerun in the season to tie the game in the sixth.
Wesleyan broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth when Luke Williford scored after two consecutive Old Westbury balks. Kenny Flythe's homerun and an RBI-double by Nathan West put Wesleyan up 5-2.
The Panthers scored one run in the top of the seventh, but would not get any closer.
Starting pitcher Nelson Hernandez took the loss after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Old Westbury combined for 10 hits, with Geronimo leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance.
Old Westbury went ahead 1-0 in the second inning of game two. Greg Jones, who had reached base with a single, advanced to second on a sac fly, stole third and reached home after a Wesleyan throwing error.
The Bishops fought back, tying the game in the fourth and went on to take a 3-1 lead with two additional runs in the fourth.
Old Westbury cut it to 3-2 with a run in the top of the sixth, but Wesleyan added two insurance runs in the bottom of that frame and held on for the 5-2 win.
Argelis Rosario took the loss for Old Westbury, while Wesleyan's McIntyre picked up the win.
Wesleyan returns to action on Friday when the Bishops host Bridgewater College at 1:00 p.m. at Bauer Field.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow at Lynchburg College. First pitch is at 2:00 pm.