Posted: Apr 20, 2013
With the win today, the Maroons pick up a series of firsts for the Roanoke College baseball program. First, Roanoke earns its first berth into the ODAC Baseball Tournament since 2004. The Maroons will face off against the #1 seed, Bridgewater College at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 25th. The Maroons split a pair of games with the Eagles earlier in the season. The Maroons also picked up a single season wins record for the program, winning its 18th game. The Maroons 10 ODAC wins also marks a RC record for most conference wins in a season.
In the first game, the Maroons found themselves in a hole after the first five innings, as the Royals scored three runs over that period. However it was the top of the sixth where Roanoke broke through. With two outs, Andrew Peterson hit an RBI doubles plating Clark Crutchfield to give the Maroons their first run. As Reece Kingery reached on a fielding error, Peterson crossed the plate to pull within one, 3-2. Brian Kluge hit an RBI double of his own, Kingery Scored, tying the game at 3-3. Roanoke's go-ahead came from another fielding error, plating Kluge and taking a one run lead.
The Royals scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Ryan McAlister plated Phillip Jordan to tie the game at 4-4. Neither team scored again until the ninth inning. Mark Manthe started the run production for the Maroons in the inning as he it an RBI double to center field, allowing Kluge to score his second run of the game. Roanoke's final run came as Clark Crutchfield hit an RBI single, bringing around Manthe, taking a 6-4 lead. Eastern Mennonite's Ryan Tierney scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, pulling the Marlins within one. EMU had runners on first and third, but posted two straight outs, ending the game with Roanoke winning, 6-5 in game number one.
Brian Kluge led the team in hitting, going 3-5 on the afternoon, while Clark Crutchfield and Andrew Peterson had two hits each. Austin Gregory was awarded the victory, pitching 2.2 innings, only giving up one run and striking out one. Tyler Grouten started the game, pitching 6.1 innings, striking out five.
Adam Posey led the Royals in hitting, going 4-5 on the afternoon. Zach Bowles finished the game 3-5 with two RBIs. Posey was tabbed with the loss, pitching 8.1 innings, giving up five runs and striking out six.
The Royals got the jump on the Maroons in the second game, scoring one run in each of the first and third innings. They held the Maroons at bay until the top of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Brian Kluge hit a two RBI single to center field, and along with an error, plated Kingery, Gavin Pellitteri and Crutchfield. After seven innings, the Maroons held a 3-2 lead. In the top of the ninth, with the bases loaded again, Mark Manthe took a walk that allowed Pelletteri to score. The Maroons kept the Royals from scoring in the ninth inning, taking the second win, 4-2.
Gavin Pelletteri led the Maroons in both hits (2-4) and runs (2). Brian Kluge tallied a team high two RBIs. Chad Hill picked up the victory, pitching three innings and striking out four. Austin Gregory was tabbed with the save, throwing two innings, and only giving up two hits.
Eastern Mennonite was led in hitting by Jonathan Estrada and BJ Mortimer who tallied two hits each. Ryan McAlister scored both of the Royals runs in the contest. Daniel Stanley earned the loss in the contest, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs off five hits, but still striking out 12 batters.
The Maroons return to action on Thursday, April 25th, as they take on Bridgewater College in the first round of the ODAC Tournament. That contest is scheduled for a 11:00 AM start.
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