March 31, 2014

Grove City drops pair at W&J

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College baseball team dropped a pair of games at Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Washington and Jefferson on Monday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park.

The Wolverines (4-9, 2-2 PAC) fell 5-2 in the first game before losing the nightcap 6-0.

In game one, the Presidents (9-7, 4-1) got out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second behind a two-run home run from Kyle Smith and extended that lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth.

Grove City plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to close the deficit to 5-2. Senior second baseman John Rende (West Homestead, Pa./Central Catholic) hit a one-out single to right center and freshman David Laylock (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland) followed with a single  through the right side. Junior left fielder Josh Hodges (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) would then reach on a fielder's choice, but a Presidents' fielding error allowed Rende to score from second and Laylock to advance to third.

Laylock would then come home to score when freshman Brandon Gresh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) reached on a fielder's choice.

Junior Mason Stephens (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) took the loss for the Wolverines, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out three over four innings. Freshman Ryan Braundmeier (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) pitched a hitless fifth inning while junior Chris Curran (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) did the same in the sixth.

Brian O'Neill controlled things in game two for W&J, holding Grove City without a hit through six innings.

Senior third baseman Matt Corner (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) broke up the no-hitter in the top of the seventh with a one-out single to left center. Following a strikeout, freshman catcher Nolan Myers (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) singled through the left side to keep the Wolverines alive, but O'Neill recorded his eight strikeout of the game to seal the win.

Senior Erick Locker (Canton, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) took the loss on the mound, allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) and striking out three over four innings. Freshman Tim Flynn (Marco Island, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) gave up one hit and one run while striking out a pair in the final two innings.

Grove City has a quick turnaround, as the Wolverines travel to Bethany tomorrow for another PAC doubleheader at 1 p.m.

 Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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