NAIA/GCAC/Baseball
By Michael Coker/Black College Nines
Edward Water’s pitcher tried to add to his growing list of momentous college athletic success. Having already pitched three no-hitters in three years, Dalton Ripley attempted to be the first baseball pitcher to throw two no-hitters during the same season against the same team which would have been his fourth.
Not known before game time if EWC head Baseball Coach Reginald Johnson would give Ripley the nod to pitch as the Tigers are in the mist of fighting for first place with a 10-2 Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference (GCAC) record, 25-18 overall entering the contest, ranked 3rd among “small school division” HBCU ranking as ranked by Black College Nines.
Ripley started the opening game of a scheduled doubleheader, pitched a one-hitter as Edward Waters defeated Morris College 10-0.
The Tigers offensively scored in every inning on 10 runs with 10 hits as seven starters each had one hit a piece with the win.
Ripley’s image of his third no-hitter last month has been making its way around the internet. If Ripley had accomplished his fourth no-hit effort, April 17, 2015 would have been an historic event on this date.
Forty-six years ago today, on April 17, 1969, Montreal Expos Bill Stoneman no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies for a 7-0 victory as the Expos are now known as the Washington Nationals.
Another no-hitter was thrown on the date of April 17: Five years ago today, April 17, 2010, Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies no-hit the Atlanta Braves in the Rockies franchise’s 20th season.
Ripley recorded 5 strikeouts, one walk giving up one hit. The lone Hornets hit was by pitcher Jeraud Scott lifting Morris out of the no-hit Ripley club on a 2-0 count lined a double between both left and center fielders.
This was Ripley’s second fine performance of the season. It’s hard to believe that he has only the two wins to show for his efforts this season.
His career stats verses Morris, 21 scoreless innings, won his 4th straight game, struck out 20 batters, 3 no-hitters, one-one hitter, 5 walks and a 0.00 earned run average for the junior right hander.
Tiger Bats were equally effective. Juan Bracamonte went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s. Jesse Baker went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s in game one.
Ripley left the Morris-EWC game after 4 clean innings and 55 pitches. Was something up?
Brent Huber pitched 1.0 innings in relief for EWC.