First Game      Second Game                                                                                                                      March 18, 2003

Grove City opens season with split at Case Western
by Greg Knowlden, sports information student assistant

CLEVELAND -- The Grove City College baseball team (1-1) opened its season by splitting a doubleheader at Case Western Reserve University Tuesday afternoon.  The Wolverines lost the front end to the Spartans, 11-5, before salvaging the trip with a 12-6 victory in the second game that went just five innings due to impending darkness.

In the first game, the Wolverines scored first but fell behind 9-1 after four innings.  A single by sophomore designated hitter Joel Diller (Hartville, Ohio/Marlington) plated a run, and a single by senior first baseman Steve Navarro (Gilbertsville, Pa./The Hill School) scored two runs as Grove City looked to come back.  However, two men left on base in both the fifth and sixth innings short-circuited any comeback attempt.

Sophomore Mike Gundy (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) took the loss, hurling three innings.  Freshman Ryan Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) pitched three innings in relief, striking out three in his three innings. 

A Navarro single scored freshman center fielder Jason DeMeo (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and gave Grove City an early lead in the nightcap.  After Case Western Reserve grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first, Grove City took the lead for good. 

The Wolverines used a pair of walks, a pair of hits and an error to go ahead 4-2 after two innings.  The offensive production continued in the third when DeMeo doubled home two runs before the Wolverine bats exploded in the fourth.  Three consecutive walks loaded the bases to start the inning, and were followed by six consecutive singles as Grove City batted around.

Starting pitcher junior Matt Kearney (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) didn’t give up a hit in his 3 1/3 innings, yielded seven walks.  Junior Sean O’Donnell (Brackenridge, Pa./St. Joseph) earned the win in relief.

Diller, Navarro and sophomore third baseman Jonathan Mycyk (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Shady Side Academy) each went 3-for-7 on the day.  Freshman shortstop Mike Ritter (Moon, Pa./Moon) was 3-for-5 with three runs scored. 

Freshman outfielder Jerry Ott (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) reached base in half of his plate appearances and scored three runs.  In the second game, DeMeo went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in and scored twice. Junior OF Greg Grupp (Harmony, Pa./Slippery Rock) also went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and scored three runs.

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