Baseball opens season with split doubleheader vs. Elms
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Griffin Finan ’07 |
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Rob Schuler ’07 |
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Bates College baseball team opened up the 2007 season with a doubleheader split against the Elms College Blazers (3-6-1) Thursday in the Gene Cusic Classic, with a 5-4 loss in the first game followed by a 3-1 win in the second.
The Bobcats came out swinging in game one, getting four hits and two runs in the first inning, capped by a two-run single by junior Alex Egelson (Fairfield, Conn.) that scored junior Denis Hogan (Franklin, Mass.) and junior Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.).
Elms responded in the third inning, scoring one run after junior Jim Drummond (Springfield, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and was later driven in by first-year Justin Jacobs (Springhill, Fla.).
Bates junior starting pitcher Dan Bousquet (Brooklyn, N.Y.) lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up one hit, and one run, while striking out three, before leaving the game with a serious shoulder injury.
Senior Pete Meisel (Newtown, Conn.) came on in relief of Bousquet, throwing 2 2/3 solid innings. However, the Elms offense came alive in the late innings, scoring four runs in the last three innings to win. In the seventh inning the Blazers got singles from junior Joseph Sawa (Chicopee, Mass.) and Jacobs. An error by first-year third baseman Josh Linscott (Portland, Maine) loaded the bases and first-year Michael Scott (Clinton, Conn.) drove a ball to left field to score two runs to win the game for the Blazers 5-4.
Bates junior Brian Buckley (Andover, Mass.) was charged with the tough-luck loss, giving up two unearned runs and striking out three batters over 1 1/3 innings of relief.
The Bobcats offense was able to muster 10 hits in game one, with two hits apiece coming from Hogan, Mahoney, and junior Erik Hood (Berlin, N.H.).
The Bobcats responded in game two picking up a 3-1 victory. Senior co-captain Griffin Finan (Bethesda, Md.) led the way for the Bobcats earning the victory with a complete-game effort. Finan surrendered five hits, all in the first three innings, one unearned run, and one walk, while striking out four.
The Bobcats got only four hits in the second game, but were able to convert them into three runs. The Bobcats got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Hood led off with a single and was driven in on a sacrifice fly by junior Alex Maulucci (Avon, Conn.). In the fourth inning Buckley reached base on an error and junior Casey McCormack (Keene, N.H.) reached base on a walk and then stole second. They were both driven in on a two-run single by senior co-captain Rob Schuler (Hanover, Mass.).
Elms scored their lone run in the third inning, after leadoff hitter junior Joe Ferry (Palmer, Mass.) reached base on a three-base error by Schuler. Sawa drove him in with an RBI single.
Sophomore Dave Farrell (Chatham, Mass.) and McCormack also added singles for the Bobcats in game two.
Elms was led by Sawa, who had two hits, one walk, and one RBI.
The Bobcats will return to action Friday with a doubleheader against Hamilton College beginning at 12 p.m.
BOX SCORE: Elms 5, Bates 4 (Game 1)
BOX SCORE: Bates 3, Elms 1 (Game 2)