The Observer, March 31, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22
Late-inning issues prove costly for Spartan baseball
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The Case baseball team played a solid seven innings last Thursday against Lake Erie College. Unfortunately, the game lasted the regulation nine innings. Junior pitcher J.R. Doolos held The Storm offense scoreless through six innings before surrendering some runs in the late innings.
Case's offense fired up in the top of the fourth inning to take the initial lead. Senior center fielder Max Briggs started the inning with a single. He then stole second, advanced to third base on an error, and scored after sophomore first baseman Jamal Mahmud doubled him home. Sophomore third baseman Kevin Haley singled, and Mahmud advanced to third before freshman designated hitter Ben Faber walked to load the bases. Mahmud then scored on a passed ball while the other two runners advanced a base. Senior second baseman Dan McNally's RBI single scored Haley and moved Faber to third. McNally stole second base to move into scoring position and was able to take third on a bad throw, which allowed Faber to score. McNally scored the fifth and final run of the inning on senior left fielder Josh Knipp's RBI sacrifice bunt.
Case was able to get another run across the board with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Haley started the rally with a single and then stole second. Faber was able to get a clutch single to score Haley and give Case a 6-0 lead.
After giving up just one hit in six innings of play, Doolos had his first trouble in the seventh inning. Lake Erie's Bill Sweet reached on an error and advanced to second on a passed ball. Sweet was able to get to third base on a fielder's choice before scoring on an RBI single by Ryan Beckham.
Despite a high pitch count, Doolos pitched for the remainder of the game. In the eighth inning, the Storm scored four runs on three hits including a two-run home run by Rocky Pfisterer. The offensive outburst by the Storm cut Case's lead to 6-5.
Case was unable to give Doolos any insurance runs despite having two runners reach base in the ninth. With one out, freshman Jonathan Fagert singled. After a flyout, Briggs walked to give Case a runner in scoring position. The half inning ended with a fielder's choice.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Storm rallied to victory. Anthony Beckham started the inning with a single. A pinch runner advanced to second on a sacrifice. Bob White singled and Beckham advanced to third. The game ended on Terry Bailey's triple as the Storm topped the Spartans, 7-6.
Case travels to the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg for a doubleheader that begins today at 1 p.m. Case split the series last year, and the Bobcats come into the game with just a 3-11 record. Leading the Bobcat offense is Rick Sholak with a .358 average. Sholak has 14 hits on the season and five RBI.
On Sunday, Case will host Thiel College for a doubleheader slated to begin at 1 p.m. Thiel enters the game with a 10-7 record. Kinsey Henderson leads the Tomcat offense. Henderson is hitting .397 on the season with 23 hits, 14 RBIs, four doubles and two home runs.
