May 13, 2016
Comeback falls short
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -- The Grove City College baseball team dropped a 12-7 decision Friday afternoon to Thiel in an elimination game at the 2016 Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament, hosted by Thomas More College.
Thiel jumped out to a 7-0 lead but Grove City charged back by scoring five times in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman left fielder Travis Auth (Medina, Ohio/Medina) singled in freshman third baseman Micah Burke (Gilbert, Ariz./E.V.A.C.) to open the Wolverine scoring. Senior DH Travis Royer (Forest, Va./Twin Valley, Pa.) scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch while Auth came in on an infield single by junior right fielder Nolan Myers (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield).
Junior first baseman Matt Waugaman (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) followed with a two-run single that scored junior second baseman Brandon Gresh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) and junior shortstop David Laylock (Mars, Pa./Pine-Richland).
Thiel scored an insurance run in the seventh, then broke open the game with four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Waugman closed the scoring with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, his conference-best 12th home run of the season.
Waugaman went 3 for 5 while Auth singled twice and Royer doubled. Laylock scored twice.
Senior pitcher Ryan Gallagher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) fired seven innings of relief, allowing three earned runs. He struck out four and walked one. Sophomore Drew Landis (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) pitched the eighth and ninth innings. Junior Ben Finlan (State College, Pa./State College) started and took the defeat.
Waugaman now has 61 hits this season, setting a single-season program record. Brian Moran set the previous mark of 59 hits in 2008. Waugaman also started his 41st game of the season, tying Butch Kriger's program record. Kriger started all 41 games in 2011.
Grove City (25-16) will await a possible invitation to the ECAC Division III Southwest Championship next week.
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