April 26, 2009
Shoremen Take Two From Seahawks
Coveney Drills Game-Winning Three-Run HR in Game Two

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Senior Joe Coveney (Madison, NJ/Madison) snapped an 8-8 tie in game two with a three-run home run to straight away centerfield in the bottom of the sixth as host Washington College completed a sweep of visiting St. Mary's (MD) with an 11-8 win in the second contest after chalking up a 6-5 win in game one. The Shoremen improve to 16-17 overall, while the Seahawks fall to 15-22.

The two teams were tied 7-7 going into the top of the sixth in the nightcap. The Seahawks took an 8-7 lead when Matt Baden scored on a throwing error by the Shoremen. The Shoremen would tie the game at 8-8 on a single by freshman Ben Jardot (McLean, VA/Flint Hill School) to right-center that plated fellow classmate Ryan Normoyle (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape). Coveney was the next batter and he drove the pitch over the centerfield wall to give Washington an 11-8 lead. St. Mary's would load the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but junior pitcher Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) would strike out the next two batters to complete the sweep.

Washington grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Normoyle scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard). The second inning would provide fireworks as the two teams combined to score 13 runs and the score would be even at 7-7 after two. The Seahawks tied the score at 1-1 on a single by Nick Urso that plated Nick Vergelli and took the lead at 2-1 when with the bases loaded Eric Gronbeck walked to force in Trey Cole. The next hitter Mark Dattilio singled to left and knocked in two to make it 4-1 Seahawks. Ian Simpson-Shelton singled in a run to make it 5-1 and the seven-run outburst was finished off by Brad Shepherd's two-run double to put the guests up 7-1. The Shoremen came right back with six runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Freshman Ben Keaton (Arlington, VA/Flint Hill School) scored on an error to cut it to 7-2. Normoyle reduced the Seahawk lead to 7-5 when he tripled down the right field line. Normoyle would score on a Jardot sacrifice fly to make it 7-6 and senior Jim Bannar (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) plated Perret to even the level the score at 7-7. The score would remain tied until the sixth inning.

At the plate for Washington, Bannar, Coveney, Jardot and Normoyle all had two hits in the win. Coveney and Normoyle both drove in three runners, while Jardot had two RBI. Normoyle crossed home plate three times, while Perret scored twice. On the mound, Keiper got the win in relief, striking out five batters in two innings to improve to 2-2 on the season. For St. Mary's, Simpson-Shelton and Urson both went 3-for-5 in the loss. Both Dattilio and Shepherd each brought in two teammates in the second tilt. On the mound, Matt Siciliano took the loss and falls to 0-6.

In the opener, St. Mary's grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Washington erased the lead with a four-run third inning. Normoyle gave the Shoremen the lead for good when he slammed him his third home run of the season to put WC up 2-1. Coveney and Bannar then added RBI hits to push the lead to 3-1 and 4-1 respectively.

The Seahawks got one run back in the top of the fourth to cut it to 4-2, but the Shoremen responded with two runs to lead 6-2 after four. Rolewicz would hit his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field in the frame to give Washington a four-run lead.

St. Mary's scored three runs in the top of the fifth to trim the Washington lead to 6-5. Blake Beaudoin cut the lead to 6-3 on a sacrifice fly and a two-out, two-run triple off the bat of Jacen Killebrew reduced the Shoremen lead to 6-5. Sophomore Paul McMannis (Arbutus, MD/Lansdowne) struck out the next hitter to keep Killebrew stranded at third. In the top of the seventh, Lyle Kralle tripled with two away, but McMannis got next hitter to strike out swinging to end the opener.

On the mound, Perret got the victory for the Shoremen and improves to 3-1 on the season and McMannis picked up his first save of the year. At the dish, Normoyle was 2-for-4 with two RBI and run scored. Also recording two hits for WC in game one was Bannar and Perret. Rolewicz scored twice and plated two runs. For the Seahawks, Killebrew was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Beaudoin drove in two teammates. On the mound, Adam Shenk took the loss and falls to 1-1.

Washington concludes its 2009 season on Wednesday versus Eastern Shore rival Salisbury at Athey Baseball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE