April 8, 2006

Wolverines earn split at Thomas More

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- The Grove City College baseball team split a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Thomas More Saturday afternoon. Grove City (12-5, 5-3 PAC) dropped the opener, 3-0, but bounced back for an 8-5 victory in the second game.

In the nightcap, Grove City jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Three walks, an error and a balk helped fuel that Wolverine rally. Senior shortstop Mike Ritter (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) and sophomore DH Mike Hess (Sewickley, Pa./Avonworth) both had run-scoring singles during the inning.

A two-run single from freshman second baseman Ben Wilson (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee Davis) helped spark a four-run fifth inning for Grove City. Sophomore catcher Ray Mertz (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) and sophomore center fielder John Coyne (Solon, Ohio/Solon) also cracked RBI singles in the fifth as Grove City extended its lead to 8-0.

Thomas More scored twice in the fifth against Grove City starter Erik Arnesen (Princeton, N.J./Timothy Christian) to cut the lead to 8-2. The Saints then added three unearned runs in the sixth against Arnesen

Junior closer Justin Miller (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) pitched the seventh to earn his fourth save of 2006. Arnesen improved to 4-0 with the win. He allowed five runs (two earned) in six innings. Arnesen struck out five and allowed six hits.

Wilson scored twice while junior first baseman Dan Bartkowiak (Fredonia, N.Y./Fredonia) doubled and stole a base.

In the opener, Ritter doubled and singled to account for Grove City's only two hits. Senior right-hander Ryan Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) took the loss for the Wolverines and fell to 4-1 on the season. He allowed nine hits in six innings. It is his fourth complete game of the season.

The teams will conclude the three-game series with a single 9-inning game Sunday in Crestview Hills.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

Go back to Wolverine Baseball Home Page