May 5, 2007

Wolverines close PAC play

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Grove City College baseball team wrapped up Presidents' Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon by dropping both ends of a conference doubleheader at Thiel Saturday. The host Tomcats earned a 12-6 win in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 13-5 in Game Two at Packard Park.

Grove City (15-18, 5-13 PAC) trailed 5-1 after two innings but eventually forged a 6-6 tie in the top of the fifth. Senior first baseman Dan Bartkowiak (Fredonia, N.Y./Fredonia) opened Grove City's two-run third inning by tripling in freshman shortstop Mark Scriven (Gibsonia, Pa./Dutch Fork, S.C.). Bartkowiak then scored on a bunt single by junior center fielder Brian Moran (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate).

Grove City pulled to within 6-5 in the fourth as Scriven and sophomore left fielder Seth Thompson (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) both cracked run-scoring singles. The Wolverines then tied the game in the fifth as sophomore DH Brad Stombaugh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Bryan Pierrot (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth).

However, Thiel reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-clearing double by Ben Cobler. Thiel also scored twice in the sixth.

Moran doubled and singled while Bartkowiak added a single to his triple. Sophomore reliever Matt Tindall (Copley, Ohio/Copley) took the defeat, allowing six runs in two innings. Freshman Michael Herringshaw (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) started and allowed six runs in three innings. Senior Eric Hull (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) retired the side in the sixth.

In the nightcap, Grove City led 5-3 entering the bottom of the fourth but Thiel reclaimed the lead with a four-run outburst. Thiel broke the game open in the sixth with a six-run rally.

Junior catcher Ray Mertz (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) doubled and added two singles in three at-bats for Grove City. Sophomore third baseman Cody Koontz (Moundsville, W. Va./John Marshall) singled twice while senior right fielder Chris Schwamberger (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison) drove in a pair of runs.

Sophomore pitcher Zach Hillegas (Bridgeport, W. Va./Bridgeport) took the loss for Grove City despite pitching into the sixth inning. Hillegas allowed nine runs in five-plus innings. He fanned five.

Grove City will wrap up the 2007 season Monday with a non-conference doubleheader at Pitt-Greensburg.

First Game Box Score        Second Game Box Score

Go back to Wolverine Baseball Home Page