March 28, 2005

Wolverines open season in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the 2005 season last week by participating in the Gene Cusic Classic at Terry Park in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Wolverines went 2-5 during the four-day schedule of games, closing the week with a doubleheader sweep of Plymouth State (N.H.). In Thursday's opener, junior Erik Arnesen (Princeton, N.J./Timothy Christian) fired a complete-game four-hitter as the Wolverines earned a 5-1 win. Arnesen struck out 10 batters, walked none and did not allow an earned run.

In the opener, Grove City posted single runs in each of the first three innings, then put the game away in the bottom of the sixth as junior center fielder Jerry Ott (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) belted a two-run double. Freshman DH Michael Busin (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) also doubled in the win while junior shortstop Mike Ritter (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) went 2-for-4.

In the nightcap, Grove City pulled out a 4-2 win. Sophomore left-hander Jarrett Wiggers (Panama, N.Y./Panama Central) earned the win, allowing one run in four innings. Sophomore reliever Dan Aloisio (Chicago, Ill./Wheaton Academy) fired two scoreless innings while junior Ryan Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) earned the save.

Sophomore outfielder Chris Schwamberger (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison) cracked three hits in the win while Busin and senior first baseman Joel Diller (Hartville, Ohio/Marlington) both went 2-for-3. Schwamberger also stole two bases.

The Wolverines opened the week by dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Lawrence (Wis.) Monday, March 21. Lawrence earned a 12-3 win in the opener, then won the nightcap 15-3. Diller cracked a solo homer while freshman second baseman Bryan Pierrot (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) and junior right fielder Greg Hrebinko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) each doubled and singled. Ott tripled.

Senior Mike Gundy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in five innings.

In the second game against Lawrence, freshman second baseman Jamie Skyrm (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Baptist) doubled and singled while Diller tripled and Schwamberger doubled. Freshman Chris Bowser (Stow, Ohio/Stow) took the loss, allowing 11 runs in five innings. Junior Mike Kennedy (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) got the final six outs in relief. 

On Tuesday, March 22, the Wolverines dropped a doubleheader to Carroll (Wis.), 5-4 and 6-3. Carroll mustered just six hits in the opener against senior Luke Lester (Dover, Ohio/Dover) and Carr but three Wolverine errors proved costly. Lester took the loss despite striking out five in 4 1/3 innings. Carr pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out three. Ott went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while Diller doubled and singled. Pierrot also doubled while senior catcher A.J. Stedford (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) laced a pair of singles.

Three Grove City errors in the second game proved costly again against Carroll. Carr took the loss in relief of sophomore starter Neil Hoagland (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch), who allowed two earned runs in four innings. Arnesen pitched the seventh and struck out the side.

Senior left fielder Michael McMillen (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) tripled and singled while Busin doubled and singled. Freshman John Coyne (Solon, Ohio/Solon) went 2-for-3, drove in a pair of runs and stole two bases. Ott also doubled as part of Grove City's 10-hit performance.

Wednesday afternoon, Grove City dropped a 19-2 decision to Wisconsin-Whitewater, the third-place finisher at the 2004 NCAA Division III Baseball Championships. Whitewater broke the game open with four runs in the fifth and then 10 runs in the seventh. Sophomore starter Justin Miller (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) took the loss, allowing five runs in three-plus innings. Kennedy added one inning of scoreless relief.

Diller tripled and singled while senior third baseman Jonathan Mycyk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) also tripled. Pierrot added a pair of hits. 

Busin hit .545 during the trip while Diller hit .348 (8 for 23) and slugged .696. Pierrot went 7 for 19 (.368) while Ritter scored a team-best five runs.

Grove City will host Penn State Behrend Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. in a single nine-inning game.

Lawrence Box Score (Game One)                Lawrence Box Score (Game Two)

Carroll Box Score (Game One)                    Carroll Box Score (Game Two)

Wisconsin-Whitewater Box Score

Plymouth State Box Score (Game One)        Plymouth State Box Score (Game Two)

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