SALEM, Va--- Roanoke split with Bridgewater, 1-0 and 14-3 in an ODAC-doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Kiwanis field.

In game one, Tyler Grouten (Avon, CT, Avon) pitched 8.1 innings in an incredible shutout performance in a 1-0 victory over the Eagles. Michael Haslam (Collegeville, PA, Springfield) earned his first save of the season as he forced a groundout to himself and struck out the final batter with a runner on third to secure the Maroons first conference win.

Roanoke scored the only run of the game in the third inning.  Matt Wallman (Forest, VA, Jefferson Forest) started things off with a single. He was then followed by a walk from Nick Sburlati (Blacksburg, VA, Blacksburg) to put runners on first and second with no outs.  After a sacrifice bunt from Dalton Lipes (Buchanan, VA, James River) to put both runners in scoring position, Scott Thurston's (Glen Allen, VA, J.R. Tucker) RBI-single to rightfield scored Wallman.

 

The Maroons well-balanced attack was key in the victory, as six different players recorded one hit apiece. 

 

Bridgewater, as a team recorded six hits, and were lead by Brett Howell, who finished with two hits. 

 

One run was enough for pitcher Tyler Grouten (Avon, CT, Avon) to earn his second victory of the year. He pitched 8.1 shutout innings, allowing only six hits, while walking no batters and giving up no runs. His cause was helped by a stifling Roanoke defense. Benjamin Amos (Vinton, VA, William Byrd) led the defensive effort as he tallied six assists and helped turn two crucial double plays to help Grouten escape tough situations.

 

Joseph Lucas took the loss on the hill for the Eagles, throwing eight innings of one run ball. He allowed six hits, while walking one on the afternoon.

 

The second half of the doubleheader was a different story for the Maroons, as they fell to the Eagles 15-1. Bridgewater took an early lead off of a Jake Wade RBI single which drove Kevin Kirk home, and they never looked back.

 

The Eagles did the majority of their damage in the top of the fifth inning, as they were able to drive home six runs on four hits. Jonathan Mason ignited the surge with a two run RBI double to right field. Three batters later, Wade's shot to left field allowed two more runners to cross home plate. Bridgewater went on to score two more runs in the sixth, four runs in the seventh, and topped it off with a run in the eighth inning off of a Bryan Sanderson RBI triple.  

 

Roanoke was led by Jacob Clifton (Vinton, VA, William Byrd), who finished 3-for-5 with two RBI's.   Wallman homered in the bottom of the ninth inning, but unfortunately for the Maroons, it was a case of too little to late, as the game by then was out of hand.

 

The Eagles registered 17 hits, and were paced by Kirk's 5-for-5, two RBI, four run performance. Devon Snow and Wade also made contributions with three hits a piece. 

 

John Terlesky (Charlottesville, VA , Albermarle), who started on the mound for Roanoke was tagged in the loss, while Kevin Chandler registered another victory for Bridgewater, improving his record to 4-0 on the year. 

 

The Maroons return to action as they host Bluefield College at Kiwanis Field on Monday, March 28. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 7:00 p.m.