April 25, 2009
Shoremen and Mules Split CC Doubleheader
Jardot Tallies Two Hits In Both Games of Twinbill

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Host Washington College and visiting Muhlenberg College split a Centennial Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Athey Baseball Park. Muhlenberg won the opener by a 13-4 score, while Washington won the second game, 5-3. The Shoremen are now 14-17 overall and 7-11 in conference play with the split, while the Mules go to 15-21-1 and 8-10 respectively. Both teams concluded their conference schedules in this twinbill.

In game two, Muhlenberg jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Eric Pomroy scored on a fielding error by Washington. The Shoremen would respond though two in their half of the fourth to take the lead for good. Senior Ben Kaplan (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) singled through the right side to plate senior Jim Bannar (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) to tie the game at 1-1. During the same play, a Mule throwing error allowed junior Brian Kramer (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) to score and put the hosts up 2-1.

Washington tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fifth to stretch its lead to 5-1. Freshman Ryan Normoyle (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) led off the frame with a triple down the right field line and would score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard) to make it 3-1. WC increased the lead to 4-1 when freshman Ben Jardot (McLean, VA/Flint Hill School) scored on a fielding error by Muhlenberg. Bannar capped the rally with a double that score freshman Ben Keaton (Arlington, VA/Flint Hill School).

Muhlenberg would rally though with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to cut the Shoremen lead to 5-3. Christian Conti, who led off the seventh with a three-bagger scored on a sac fly by Brian Beck to make it 5-2. In the eighth, John Kalis singled through the right side with two outs to plate Dan Fisher and cut the lead to 5-3. The Mules had the tying run at the plate, but junior pitcher Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) retired the first batter he faced, Conti, on a swinging strike out to end the inning.

The Mules put the first two on in the top of the ninth and had runners at second and third with nobody out. Keiper would get both Bobby Spindler and Chris Costa to strike out swinging and got the final out on a flyball to Jardot off the bat of Eric Hammond to end the game and record his second save of the season.

For Washington, senior pitcher Matt Swanson (Highland, MD/Mount St. Joseph) got the win and improves to 4-2. He went 7 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs, one earned and struck out six before giving away to Keiper who got the final four outs, three via the strikeout. At the plate, Bannar and Jardot each had two hits in the win. Muhlenberg's Kevin Witimer took the loss and falls to 0-3 on the season. Conti went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the nightcap.

In game one, Muhlenberg scored four runs in the first inning to grab a quick 4-0 lead. Pomroy singled in Fisher for the first run of the game. Edward Risener doubled in Pomroy to make it 2-0 and Conti plated both Kalis and Risener to complete the scoring in the top of the first. The Mules tacked on another run in the top of the second to lead 5-0.

Washington got two back in the bottom of the second trim the Muhlenberg lead to 5-2 on an RBI single by Keaton and an RBI groundout by senior Doug Lutz (Pitman, NJ/Pitman). The Mules got a two-out solo home run by Conti in the top of the third to extend the lead to 6-2. Washington cut the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles by Perret and Jardot.

Muhlenberg would score three runs in the top of the sixth with the help of two Washington errors to expand the lead to 9-4. The big hit for the guests in the frame was Pomroy's two-out two-run double to give the Mules a five-run cushion. The Mules netted four runs in the top of the seventh to make it 13-4 and provide the final margin.

For the Mules in game one, Phil Cresta chalks up the victory and improves to 5-3 on the season. He struck out five batters in 5 1/3 innings of work. At the plate, five Muhlenberg players, Fisher, Pomroy, Conti, Spindler and Clint Lynch all had two hits in the win. Lynch scored three runs, while Conti and Spindler each scored two times. Conti and Pomroy both knocked in three teammates, while Fisher and Lynch both drove in two.

For the Shoremen in the opener, Keaton was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI, while Jardot also had two hits, scoring once and driving in one teammate. On the mound, junior Chris Smith (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) took the loss and drops to 3-5.

The Shoremen will host St. Mary's (MD) tomorrow for a 12:30 p.m. twinbill on Senior Day.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE