Columbia Union defeats SMCC 10-2 in USCAA Quarterfinals

HAMPTON, VA. - Junior Richard Arciniega drove in three runs and senior Matt Acevedo scored three times as third-seeded Columbia Union College defeated sixth-seeded Southern Maine Community College 10-2 in the opening round of the 2008 USCAA Baseball National Championships on Tuesday.

The win advanced Columbia Union to a 4 pm semifinal against second-seeded Briarcliffe College.  Southern Maine Community College will now face Penn State Greater Allegheny in an 8:30 am elimination game on Wednesday morning.

Southern Maine opened the scoring in the first as with two outs Bradley Grady walked, advanced on a single from Chasen Barritt and scored on a single from Coleman Findlay. 

The Pioneers started their scoring in the third with three runs and broke the game open with three more in the fifth.  Bill Arpei doubled in Acevedo and he scored on a single by Arciniega who later scored on a Kyle Bahrle single. 

Jason Torgerson, Acevedo and Arciniega had a pair of hits each for Columbia Union to back up winning pitcher Alex Machain who went five innings allowing five hits.  Southern Maine CC was paced by Kyle Egbert and Coleman Findlay with a pair of hits each.

COLUMBIA UNION 10, SOUTHERN MAINE CC 2

Southern Maine CC         100 010 0 - 2 7 2

Columbia Union Coll.      003 133 x - 10 11 2

WP: Machain; LP: Hall.  Standouts: SMCC, Egbert 2-4 (run), C. Findlay 2-2 (RBI); CUC, Torgerson 2-4 (2 runs); Acevedo 2-2 (double, triple, 3 runs, RBI), Arpei 1-3 (RBI, 2 runs, double); Arciniega 2-4 (3RBIs, double).