March 31, 2009
Shoremen Whitewash Garnet, 6-0
Swanson and Draheim Combine On Shutout

SWARTHMORE, PA - Visting Washington College scored three runs each in the top of the third and eighth innings to down host Swarthmore College, 6-0, in Centennial Conference baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Clothier Field. The Shoremen (8-8, 2-3 CC) have now downed the Garnet (8-12, 0-3 CC) in two of the last three meetings at Clothier Field and five of the last six times overall. This is Washington's first nine inning shutout since an 11-0 blanking of Swarthmore on April 27, 2000.

Washington got on the board in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. With one out, freshman Ryan Normoyle (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) doubled to left field and scored on a two-bagger off the bat of senior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard). Senior Matt Boucher (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) laced a single to left to move Perret up to third. With two away in the frame, senior Tony Tozzolo (Calvert County, MD/Northern) singled to centerfield on a 1-2 pitch to plate both Boucher, who had stolen second base, and Perret to make it 3-0. In the bottom half of the inning, Tozzolo made diving catch in right to rob Matt Lamb of a hit.

The Shoremen loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with one away on a single by Kramer that would knock out Swarthmore starting hurler Neil Mejia. Freshman John Rolewicz (Bear, DE/Salesianum) drew a walk off of Swarthmore's new pitcher, Adam Hardy, to plate freshman Ben Keaton (Arlington, VA/Flint Hill School) and make it 4-0. The next batter, junior Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) belted a two-run single to left field to plate two and put WC up 6-0 and provide the final tally.

In the bottom of the first, Swarthmore got its leadoff runner to third with one out, but was stranded when senior pitcher Matt Swanson (Highland, MD/Mount St. Joseph) got a popout and a groundout respectively to leave the runner stranded.

The Garnet got runners at first and third with one out in the fourth. Swanson got Spencer Ross to pop out to second base for the second out and struck out Andy Eisenlohr swinging to end the threat. Swarthmore threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Swanson induced a Wiley Archibald groundout to Normoyle to end the Swarthmore's hopes.

The Shoremen put runners on the corners with two out in the top of the seventh. Normoyle reached on a fielding error and advanced to third on Perret's single up the middle. However Mejia got Boucher to groundout to third to prevent WC from increasing its lead in the seventh.

Swarthmore would put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh and finally chased Swanson from the game. Both runners would advance on a passed ball with out, but freshman relief pitcher Hunter Draheim (Hollywood, MD/Leonardstown) fanned Mike Waterhouse to keep it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

Washington got two on in the ninth, but did not score.

For the Shoremen, Swanson went 6.1 innings, giving up just six hits, walking two and striking out five to gain the win and improve to 2-1 on the season. Draheim pitched the final 2.2 innings for his first career save and striking out five in the process. At the dish, Perret, Boucher, Tozzolo and Kramer each tallied two hits. Tozzolo and Keiper both drove in two teammates in the triumph.

Meija took the loss and falls to 2-3. He tossed 7.1 innings allowing six runs and striking out five. At the plate Lamb pounded out two hits for the hosts.

The Shoremen return to action tomorrow with a 3:30 p.m. non-conference home contest versus Catholic.

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