April 19, 2009
Shoremen Capture Opener Versus Bears
Ursinus Grabs Game Two To Garner Split

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Host Washington College and visiting Ursinus College split a Centennial Conference baseball doubleheader at Athey Baseball Park on Sunday afternoon. The Shoremen triumphed in game one by a 9-7 score, while the Bears snared a 6-3 win in game two. Washington is now 12-16 overall and 6-10 in the Centennial, while Ursinus is now 21-9-1 and 12-4 in the conference.

In game one, the Shoremen wasted no time by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first to take a quick 5-0 lead. Senior Tony Tozzolo (Calvert County, MD/Northern) knocked in freshman Ryan Normoyle (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) on an infield single to make it 1-0. Freshman Ben Jardot (McLean, VA/Flint Hill School) plated Tozzolo on a single to put the hosts up 2-0. Freshman Ben Keaton (Arlington, VA/Flint Hill School) singled in two runs to put WC up 4-0. An infield single by off the bat of Normoyle plated the final run of the inning to give the Shoremen a 5-0 cushion.

Ursinus got one run in the top of the second inning on a home run by Scott Young to reduce the lead to 5-1. The Shoremen regained the five-run lead at 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Tozzolo launched his team leading fifth home run of the season to left-center field. The Bears cut the lead to 6-2 on an RBI single by Ben Lockman in the fifth.

Washington scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a seven-run lead at 9-2, with all three runs coming after two outs. Senior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard) singled through the left side to drive in senior Doug Lutz (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) to make it 7-2. On the same play, Normoyle came around from first to score on a fielding error by Ursinus to make it 8-2. Tozzolo capped the rally with a single throught the right side that plated Perret to make it 9-2.

Ursinus would not go down quietly however as they scored one run in the sixth on a wild pitch to make it 9-3 Washington. In the seventh, the Bears would score four runs and had the tying run at the plate before the rally was halted. Ursinus cut the lead to 9-4 on a throwing error by the hosts and trimmed the lead to 9-5 on a fielder's choice. Ursinus reduced Washington's lead to 9-7 on a two-run double off the bat of Tommy Clarke. However the next batter, Ryan Schmidt grounded out to Lutz to end the game and give the Shoremen the victory in game one.

For Washington in the opener, Tozzolo was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Normoyle chalked up two hits and two runs, Keaton recorded two hits and two RBI and senior Joe Coveney (Madison, NJ/Madison) chipped in with two hits. On the mound, Perret recorded the victory and improves to 2-1. He struck out batters in 5 1/3 innings before giving way to junior Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings.

Ursinus got a 2-for-3 performance from Young in the opener with a home run. David Randolph scored two runs and Clarke drove in two teammates. Nate Schnell took the loss for the Bears, falling to 1-3 on the campaign.

In game two, Ursinus broke a 0-0 deadlock with three runs in the top of the fourth. Randolph plated Brett Umstead on a two-bagger to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Rob Vogt doubled home Randolph to push the lead to 2-0. The Bears made it 3-0 on a Schmidt single up the middle that chased home Vogt. The Bears would score one run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to increase their lead to 6-0, with all of the runs being unearned during those three frames.

Washington chopped the lead in half with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to trim Ursinus' lead to 6-3. With two away, Jardot drew a walk and advanced to second and third on consecutive wild pitches. He would score on a single up the middle by freshman John Rolewicz (Bear, DE/Salesianum) to get Washington on the board at 6-1. Normoyle would single in Rolewicz and junior Brian Kramer (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) to cut the lead to 6-3, but that's as close as Washington would get. The Shoremen got the leadoff batters on in the eighth and ninth innings, but could not drive them in and the Bears hold on for the game two win. Ursinus clinched a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament with the victory in game two.

Ursinus got two hits from Randolph, Vogt and Schmidt in the second game, with Vogt scoring twice and Randolph knocking in two runs. Along with Vogt, Lockman came around to score two runs in the win. On the mound, Corey Weaver tossed his second complete game of the year to improve to 1-3. He struck out seven and scattered eights hits, while giving up just one earned run.

For Washington, Rolewicz and Tozzolo each totaled two hits in the nightcap, with Normoyle driving in a pair. For the twinbill, Tozzolo was 6-for-8 and has now hit safely in eight straight games. Freshman pitcher Steve Cameron (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) took the loss and falls to 0-2.

The Shoremen return to action Wednesday with a 3 p.m. non-conference road game at St. Mary's (MD).

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE