March 24, 2016

Grove City splits Florida finale

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The Grove City college baseball team wrapped up its six-game trip to Florida by splitting a doubleheader Thursday afternoon with Thomas (Maine.). Thomas earned a 6-3 win in the opener but Grove City (11-5) rebounded for a 4-1 win in Game Two.

In the nightcap, freshman pitcher John Bini (Staten Island, N.Y./Xaverian) improved to 4-0 by throwing a complete game. Bini allowed one earned run and seven hits over seven innings. He struck out six.

 Grove City grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior right fielder Nolan Myers (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) doubled in junior shortstop David Laylock (Mars, Pa./Pine-Richland). The lead grew to 3-0 in the second inning as freshman left fielder Shane Hammel (Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) laced a two-run double that scored freshman third baseman Micah Burke (Gilbert, Ariz./E.V.A.C.) and sophomore second baseman Drew Landis (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion).

Landis later led off the fourth inning with a solo homer, his first of the season. Landis, Hammel and Myers all finished the game with two hits each.

Four Thomas pitchers combined on a three-hitter in Game One. Myers gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he stole home as part of a double steal. In the sixth, Burke singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman Travis Auth (Medina, Ohio/Medina).

Junior first baseman Matt Waugaman (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), this week's Presidents' Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, scored Grove City's final run in the top of the seventh when he came home on a wild pitch.

Junior Cameron Lawson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) started and took the pitching setback for Grove City. He allowed four earned runs in three innings. Myers pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowed one hit.

At 11-5 overall, Grove City is off to its best start in 10 years. The Wolverines will host conference rival Washington & Jefferson in a single game March 30 at 3 p.m.

Game One Box Score        Game Two Box Score

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