Grove City edges W&J, 9-8
GROVE CITY, PA, April 21, 2001--Senior RF Nate Kauffman (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) drove in four runs with a home run and a triple and senior LHP Mike Suchan (Independence, OH/Independence) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the Grove City College baseball team (10-8, 7-2 PAC) held on to defeat visiting Washington & Jefferson College, 9-8, on a soggy Saturday at the College Field.
The Wolverines, who led 7-0 after five innings, broke an 8-8 tie in the bottom of the seventh when senior C Jeff Conaway (Freeport, PA/Freeport) walked with the bases loaded, plating freshman Greg Grupp (Harmony, PA/Slippery Rock) with the game-winner. Grupp entered the game as a pinch-runner for senior 3B J.G. Louden (Morgantown, WV/University), who led off the inning with a single. Kauffman then walked, sophomore Steve Navarro (Gilbertsville, PA/The Hill School) bunted the runners to second and third and freshman 2B Jake Cuthbert (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon) walked to load the bases for Conaway.
Kauffman, 2-for-3 in the game, cracked a two-run triple in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth -- his team-leading seventh tater of the season, tying his single-season high set last year. Cuthbert went 2-for-3 with his first round-tripper of the season. Senior SS Mike Kashurba (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe) and Conaway each added two hits and scored two runs apiece. Senior CF Adam Booth (Hartville, OH/Lake) belted a two-run double and senior LF Adam Myers (Conneaut Lake, PA/Conneaut Lake) contributed a two-run single. Louden and junior DH Drew Hoagland (Butler, PA/Knoch) contributed a hit each.
Suchan, who fanned seven batters and walked none in 5-1/3 innings, cruised through the first five frames, before allowing four unearned runs on three hits in the sixth. Freshman Matt Kearney (New Castle, PA/Neshannock) notched the victory (1-0), getting the last three outs in the seventh.
The second game was postponed due to
rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader in Grove City on
Monday.
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