March 12, 2013

Grove City opens season in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the 2013 season Friday and Saturday by playing four games in Myrtle Beach, S.C., against Pennsylvania foes. Grove City opened its trip Friday by splitting a doubleheader with Ursinus. The Wolverines earned a 5-2 win in Game One but dropped the nightcap 3-2.

Saturday, Arcadia took both ends of a twinbill with Grove City, 7-2 and 4-2.

In Friday's opener, junior shortstop Matt Corner (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) helped pace Grove City by going 4 for 4 while junior second baseman John Rende (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and senior DH Doug Wells (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) both singled twice. Senior first baseman Kyle Shock (Loudonville, Ohio/Hillsdale) added a double.

Senior pitcher Zach Butler (Massillon, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) earned the win after yielding just one earned run in six innings. He struck out five and allowed six hits. Freshman Ryan Gallagher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.

Shock went 2 for 3 with a double in the Game Two setback against Ursinus. Sophomore catcher Pete Garthwaite (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline) added a run-scoring double for Grove City, which had just four hits.

Sophomore pitcher Mason Stephens (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) pitched four innings and allowed two runs. He allowed just three hits but took the defeat. Freshman Scott Williams (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) pitched the fifth and allowed one run. Sophomore Chris Curran (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

Rende and senior left fielder Zach Struharik (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) both went 2 for 3 in Saturday's opener against Arcadia. Junior pitcher Erick Locker (Canton, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) started and threw a complete game for the Wolverines. Locker allowed three earned runs and seven hits in seven innings.

In Game Two, four Grove City pitchers combined on a four-hitter. Williams started and allowed two earned runs in three innings. Gallagher, freshman Steve Maskrey (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) and freshman Drew Chorey (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) all pitched an inning of hitless relief.

Shock doubled and singled to help pace the offense. Senior center fielder Josh Sacks (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) and sophomore third baseman J.R. Willard (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland) also doubled.

Grove City will open the northern portion of its schedule Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader at La Roche at 1 p.m.

Ursinus Box Score (Game One)            Ursinus Box Score (Game Two)

Arcadia Box Score (Game One)            Arcadia Box Score (Game Two)

Go to Wolverine Baseball