March 28, 2007
Box Score
EMMITSBURG, Md. - Mount St. Mary's swept a doubleheader against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday afternoon at Straw Family Stadium. The Mount captured the first game, 4-2, and won the second game, 14-2. Junior Joel Gonzalez hit his first career homerun in game one, continuing his torrid hitting.
In the opening game, the Mount scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to snap a 1-1 tie en route to the 4-2 victory. In the second inning, Eric Smith doubled, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to give the Mount a 1-0 lead. The Hawks answered with a run in the top of the third on Justin Hoban's RBI double that plated Eric Gaines who led-off with a walk.
The Mount took control with a three-run fourth. Josh Vittek reached on an error to open the inning and Smith followed with a double to right field. After a Ryan Murray groundout, Drew Counselman doubled to left center to drive home Vittek and Smith to give the Mount a 3-1 lead. Counselman later scored on a Matt Trusch RBI groundout.
The two Hawk errors did in UMES as starter Ken Richardson took the loss despite an amazing performance giving up just three hits over five innings of work. He allowed all four runs, tow were earned. Gonzalez homered in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2, but Mount pitcher Dustin Pease closed the door the rest of the way to earn the victory. Pease (4-2) allowed one run while striking out four to earn the victory. Freshman Max Brittenham started and allowed one run in four innings while striking out four.
Smith was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs scored in the game. Hoban had a pair of hits to pace UMES. Dustin Longchamps worked a perfect sixth inning for the Hawks, striking out one. In the nightcap, Smith went 2-for-2 with four RBI to pace the Mount offense. Counselman went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI in game two while Matt Eiden chipped in two hits and two runs scored in the victory.
The Hawks got on the board early in the second game with James Walls doubling to right and scoring Josh Dean who led-off the inning with a walk. They followed with another run in the third as Gonzalez picked up the RBI on a ground out that scored Gaines, who walked to start the inning. After that UMES was shut down offensively and managed just three more hits.
The Mount responded with a three-run third to take the lead. In that inning, Mike Gioioso and Counselman executed a double steal with Gioioso scoring when the throw to third went to left field. Vittek then doubled home Counselman and later scored on Smith's RBI single through the left side.
The Mount added to its lead with three runs in the fifth and sealed the victory with an eight-run sixth. In the fifth, Smith's two-run double to right center scored Justus Yocum and Counselman to give the Mount a 5-2 advantage. Ryan Murray's RBI fielder's choice made the score 6-2.
Ivor Hodgson allowed two runs and struck out five in the game to earn his first collegiate win for the Mount. Mike Matta pitched two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts for the Mount.
Tyler Winch took the loss, starting the game and working two and two thirds innings. He allowed three earned runs and two hits while striking out four. UMES used four pitchers in the game with Brian White and Mike Roberts each seeing some work. Carl Huber worked the final inning.
The Hawks now travel to Delaware State on the weekend to face the Hornets in a three game MEAC series. The game will be a homecoming for hawks skipper William Gardner who served as an assistant at DSU the past two seasons. The games are schedule for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon, with a Single game on Sunday.
Portions of this release appear compliments of the Mt. Saint Mary's Media Relations Office.
