March 9, 2015

Wolverines open 2015 season in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the 2015 season last week by playing 10 games in Myrtle Beach, S.C. After dropping their first three games of the trip, the Wolverines rallied to win four of five games and finished the trip with a 4-6 mark.

Grove City opened the trip February 28 by dropping a doubleheader to Plattsburgh State (N.Y.), 4-0 and 6-1. Two days later, Grove City split a doubleheader with Manhattanville as the Wolverines earned a 4-3 win in the nightcap. The Wolverines dropped an 8-6 decision in the opener.

Grove City improved to 2-3 with a 9-2 win over Mount St. Mary March 3 and after a 24-7 setback against York (Pa.) March 4, Grove City swept Muhlenberg, 4-3 and 4-1. The Wolverines closed the trip with a pair of setbacks Saturday against Staten Island, 4-1 and 12-10.

Senior pitcher Mason Stephens (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) went 1-1 on the mound with a 1.50 earned run average. He struck out 10 and allowed just 12 hits in 12 innings during his two starts. Sophomore Ben Finlan (State College, Pa./State College), sophomore Cameron Lawson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and sophomore Andrew Taylor (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) also earned pitching wins for Grove City.

Sophomore reliever Jimmy Palmer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) made four scoreless appearances and earned two saves.

Senior second baseman Josh Hodges (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) led the Wolverines by hitting .394 (13 for 33) for the week. Hodges also drove in a team-high seven runs during the 10 games.

Sophomore catcher Nick Fryer (Medina, Ohio/Medina) hit .500 (6 for 12) with a home run while sophomore first baseman Matt Waugaman (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and senior DH Reese Swatsworth (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) also homered during the trip. Freshman outfielder Tyler Graham (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) scored a team-high nine runs. Junior Travis Royer (Elverson, Pa./Twin Valley) drove in six runs.

Grove City will open the northern portion of the 2015 schedule Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at La Roche.

Plattsburgh State Box Score (Game One)       Plattsburgh State Box Score (Game Two)        Manhattanville Box Score (Game One)       Manhattanville Box Score (Game Two)     Mount St. Mary Box Score    

York Box Score     Muhlenberg Box Score (Game One)      Muhlenberg Box Score (Game Two)    Staten Island Box Score (Game One)    Staten Island Box Score (Game Two)

Go to Wolverine Baseball