#BirdGang opens the season with two wins at First Pitch Classic

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (January 31, 2014) – FCSAA No. 4 Tallahassee Community College (2-0) enjoyed a successful Opening Day to the 2014 NJCAA baseball season on Friday, picking up two wins at the First Pitch Classic, hosted by Gulf Coast State College. 

In their season opener, the Eagles scored a 9-2 win over Darton (Ga.) State College then followed it up with a 5-4 victory over Gordon (Ga.) State College. 

Against Darton State, sophomore Victor Cole, making his first career start, threw five innings and picked up the win. Cole, the reigning Panhandle Conference Fireman of the Year, allowed only one run, one hit and two walks while striking out five. The run he allowed was unearned. 

North Carolina State transfer Connor O'Brien pitched the final two innings and allowed one hit. 

Playing at hitter-friendly Bill Frazier Field, Cole was the beneficiary of home runs by Towson University transfer Ryne Willard and freshmen Ricky Negron and D.J. McKnight, all making their Tallahassee debut. 

Bobby Rice, playing for the first time since 2012, picked up two hits and freshman Quincy Nieporte had two hits and three RBI. 

In Friday's second game, Tallahassee won a back-and-forth affair against the Highlanders. The Eagles squandered a 3-1 lead then scored two runs late to pull out the 5-4 win. 

Sophomore Cody Alling started and pitched 4.2 innings but ended up with a no decision. Logan Elliot, making his collegiate debut, pitched 2.1 innings of one-hit ball in relief and was credited with the win. 

Rice had two more hits against Gordon State and Nieporte drove in two more runs. 

Tallahassee will play the same two teams on Saturday beginning with a 1:30 p.m. eastern first pitch against Gordon State.