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All-Tournament Team
BURLINGTON, N.C. — Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan College beat Shenandoah twice on Sunday to win the USA South Conference Tournament championship at Burlington Athletic Stadium. After winning the first game to force a deciding game, the Bishops knocked off the Hornets 6-2 to earn the title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
N.C. Wesleyan (24-16) notched its first conference tournament championship since 2006 and its sixth overall.
Shenandoah (31-8) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a Justen Eberz RBI single to center. The lead didn’t last long, however, as N.C. Wesleyan’s Justin Tuck smashed a two-run homer in the Bishops’ half of the inning to put his team ahead 2-1.
N.C. Wesleyan remained in front until the top of the sixth. Shenandoah’s Kevin Brashears scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 2-2.
Once again, the Bishops answered right back. Zollie Woodlief knocked a two-run homer to center field to put N.C .Wesleyan ahead 4-2. On the very next pitch, Zach Alexander crushed a solo homer to left-center field to extend the lead to three runs.
N.C. Wesleyan added another run in the seventh on a bases loaded walk.
The Hornets threatened in the top of the ninth inning with three singles, but couldn't score. N.C. Wesleyan got a grounder up the middle and Travis Beausoleil fielded the ball and stepped on second base for the force out to end the game.
Bishops right-hander Ben Moore (7-1) earned his second win of the tournament, allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort. Moore was named the tournament's MVP.
