April 19, 2008

Wolverines sweep W&J

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Two late-game rallies helped the Grove City College baseball team sweep defending Presidents' Athletic Conference champion Washington & Jefferson Saturday afternoon in a PAC doubleheader at Ross Memorial Park. Grove City (11-10, 5-3 PAC) pulled out an 8-7 victory in the opener, then rallied for an 11-6 victory in Game Two.

In the opener, Grove City trailed 7-5 entering the ninth but senior catcher Ray Mertz (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) cracked a game-tying two-run homer. Two batters later, junior shortstop Ben Wilson (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) belted a go-ahead solo homer to center field.

Sophomore pitcher Mike Herringshaw (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) then tossed a perfect ninth to preserve the victory. Herringshaw threw three scoreless innings to earn the win.

Grove City trailed 6-1 entering the fifth inning but clawed back into the game with a four-run fifth. Senior center fielder Brian Moran (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) doubled in one run while senior second baseman Bryan Pierrot (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) followed with a two-run double.

Wilson also doubled as part of a 4-for-5 effort while Moran went 3 for 5 with a double. Mertz doubled while freshman Scott Moran (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) singled twice.

Senior Chris Bowser (Stow, Ohio/Stow) started and allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Junior Matt Tindall (Copley, Ohio/Copley) allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Herringshaw (5-3) also earned the win in the nightcap as he worked the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of freshman Cory Metcalf (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland). Metcalf worked into the seventh, allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Grove City trailed 5-4 in the top of the eighth of Game Two but Scott Moran put the Wolverines ahead for good with a two-run double. Pierrot and junior first baseman Brad Stombaugh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) followed with run-scoring singles that capped a four-run outburst. Pierrot added a two-run double in the ninth to break the game open.

Junior left fielder Seth Thompson (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) opened the game with his first homer of the season. Thompson went 4 for 5 in the nightcap as Grove City recorded a season-high 22 hits. Freshman DH Butch Kriger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) collected three hits, including a double, while Pierrot went 4 for 6 with two doubles and four runs batted in.

Stombaugh also doubled twice and Scott Moran doubled as part of a three-hit game. Brian Moran scored three runs while Mertz and Wilson both singled twice.

Grove City will host Geneva Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader at College Field.

First Game Box Score            Second Game Box Score

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