The Observer, March 25, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 22
Spartan bats no match for Thomas More's pitching
It is not unusual for baseball teams to struggle after returning from warm, sunny Florida to the colder, gloomier North. Even Major League teams struggle with the change. Case's baseball team was no different during their return this year, as their bats were silenced last weekend by Thomas More's pitching.
In the first game on Sunday, the Spartans fell 11-2. Sophomore pitcher J.R. Doolos took the loss for Case. Doolos went four innings and gave up seven runs, though only three were earned. The Spartans had three costly errors in the first game that allowed the Saints to have some big innings. Junior pitcher Greg Archer gave the Spartans one inning of work as he gave up one run on two hits and a walk. Senior pitcher Ryan Sporer also appeared out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on three hits.
The Spartans scored both of their runs in the fourth inning. Juniors Tim Koenig and Josh Knipp walked, and sophomore Marshall Hampton followed suit by trotting to first after another base on balls. Junior Max Briggs then drove in a run on a fielder's choice as Koenig scored. Briggs later stole second, and an error by Thomas More's shortstop allowed Knipp to score. For the game, the Spartans managed only two hits, with one each coming from Hampton and right fielder Mark Jungerman. Briggs also stole his fifth base of the season.
The Spartans dropped the second game 10-3 to the Saints. Sophomore John Thuermer took the loss for the Spartans, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk in four innings of work. Freshman pitcher Chad Skidmore pitched two innings in relief, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk.
The Spartans scored all three runs in the sixth inning. Marshall Hampton walked with one out. Briggs moved the runner to second on a single, and sophomore catcher Joe McCrackin followed by drilling a home run to account for all the Spartan runs in the second game. With the three-run homer, McCrackin tied for the team lead with eight RBI and took the team lead in slugging percentage (.500), while Hampton continues to lead the team in hitting with a .383 batting average.
Case's record currently stands at 4-10. The Spartans look to break their three-game slide when they travel to LaRoche College for a doubleheader on Monday, with the first pitch set for noon.
