April 11, 2015

Grove City hands Saints first league loss

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the home portion of its 2015 schedule Saturday afternoon by splitting a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader with visiting Thomas More at R. Jack Behringer Field. After dropping an 8-3 decision in the opener, Grove City (9-12, 5-6 PAC) rebounded in the nightcap to hand Thomas More (18-4, 10-1) its first conference defeat this year, 7-5.

In Game Two, Grove City took the lead for good by scoring four times in the fourth inning. Freshman center fielder Tyler Graham (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) tied the game 4-4 when he singled in sophomore right fielder Nolan Myers (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield). The Wolverines then moved ahead when sophomore left fielder Luke Vorce (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) scored on a groundout from senior second baseman Josh Hodges (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City).

The lead grew to 6-4 as sophomore third baseman Brandon Gresh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) came home on a single from freshman shortstop Drew Landis (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion). Graham scored Grove City's seventh run when sophomore first baseman Matt Waugaman (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) hit a sacrifice fly.

Waugaman and sophomore catcher Andy Fritz (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) both cracked run-scoring doubles in the first to give Grove City a 2-1 lead. Waugaman finished 2 for 4 while Fritz went 2 for 3 with three runs batted in. Landis also doubled while going 3 for 4.

Senior pitcher Chris Curran (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) earned his first collegiate win by pitching two scoreless innings of relief. Landis notched his first save by recording the final six outs. He allowed one run in the seventh and struck out three batters. Sophomore Cameron Lawson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) started and pitched into the fourth, yielding four runs. He fanned four in his three innings.

Thomas More broke open the first game by scoring four times in the top of the seventh. Grove City loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but could not cut into the Saints' lead.

Hodges homered in the third to give Grove City a 3-0 lead. He finished 2 for 4. Myers doubled.

Senior pitcher Mason Stephens (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) started for Grove City and struck out eight batters in five innings. He took the setback. Junior Ryan Gallagher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) pitched a scoreless sixth inning while sophomore Jimmy Palmer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) pitched the seventh inning.

Grove City will host Thomas More at 2 p.m. Sunday in a single nine-inning conference game at R. Jack Behringer Field.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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