Spring Trip Recap

Well an 0-9 start to the season was certainly unexpected, but we learned a lot about the young squad this week.  The Lions looked like a different ball club on Friday and Saturday, losing close games to quality opponents Virginia Wesleyan and Gallaudet.  Senior Brandon Topp threw a gutsy and much needed complete game on Friday against a very good Virigina Wesleyan team who opened up their season against four top 25 teams.  The Lions and Marlins traded leads four times through the first five innings, with Virginia Wesleyan pulling away to a 6-3 lead after the sixth.  Emerson did not roll over though, as they scored one more in the 9^th and got the tying run up to bat before the last out. Topp finished with just 5 earned on 8 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

 

Looking to get the first win of the season on Saturday, the Lions traveled north to Washington DC to take on the Gallaudet Bison.  The field and weather that day were beautiful, and things looked good early.  Freshman Johnny Hasney singled up the middle in the top of the first, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then moved to third on an infield single by Cal Ciarcia.  With two outs, the Lions successfully completed a double steal as Ciarcia beat the throw to second and Hasney scored easily without a play.  The 1-0 lead was short-lived though, as Gallaudet took a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning.  Junior James Sullivan started the inning off with a rocket to the shortstop that he could not handle, and he was moved over by a sac bunt by Hasney.  Zach Dean tripled, scoring Sullivan, and then scored two pitches later on a sac fly by Ciarcia.  Brightman would take over for Sammy Evers after another solid start, going 4 innings, walking no one and striking out one.  Evers was removed from the game after a would be base hit found his ankle and bounced directly to Dean at first base for the out.  

The score remained 4-3 until the top of the 8^th, when Zach Dean led off with a double to left center.  Cal Ciarcia hit a groundball to second to move the tying run to third, and Jesse Francese knocked Dean in with a single.   Woodfield was hit by a pitch and Jim Cain pinch ran for him.  With two outs, Senior Conor McDonough hit a sky high pop up that was misplayed by the second baseman.  Francese scored easily, and Cain never stopped hustling and scored from first to give Emerson the 6-4 lead.

Brightman threw 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball on one day’s rest before running into trouble in the bottom of the 8^th.  After retiring the leadoff man, he gave up a single and a double before issuing an intentional walk to load the bases.  Junior Nick Kelly was called upon to get out of the jam, and he did just that, inducing a popup and a groundout to strand all three runners.  After a scoreless top half of the 9^th, with Emerson still leading by two, Kelly walked the first hitter of the inning, but settled down and got two fly ball outs.  With two strikes Gallaudet first baseman Jeremy Adams fouled off three pitches and then hooked a low fast ball down the line for the game tying home run.   

McDonough showed off the wheels in the top of the 10^th, legging out a two-out infield hit and then stealing second, where he was unfortunately stranded.  Gallaudet pinch hitter Tyler Crace walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning, and after he advanced to second on a wild pitch, the next hitter was intentionally walked to set up the force.  The Bison gave Emerson a little hope when they ran into an out on the next pitch when Crace got too big of a secondary lead on a wild pitch and was gunned down by catcher Steve Cameron.  The next batter was retired on a lazy fly ball to right field, but centerfielder Will Bissell was able to get a ball through the left side of the infield with two outs, scoring the run just ahead of a great throw by Sullivan from left. 

Although the Lions went winless, a lot of necessary experience was gained that will be valuable in our last year of the GNAC. 

A statistical summary of the week:  

Junior James Sullivan scored 7 runs and stole 4 bases without being caught, hitting .308.

Freshman Steve Cameron is 3 for his last 6 and finished with a .370 OBP for the week, walking 6 times and being hit by a pitch.

Ciarcia, Dean, and Woodfield are pacing the run production, combining for 13 RBI on the young season. 

Freshman Johnny Hasney has had a good start to his collegiate career, averaging a hit a game, while knocking in 3 runs, scoring 3, and stealing 2 bags. 

Sophomore Sammy Evers had the most impressive week on the mound, throwing 13 innings, allowing just 7 earned runs, walking only 3, and striking out 4. 

Sophomore Zach Dean is currently on an 8-11 tear, including 3 doubles and a triple, contributing to his .467 average, .568 on base percentage, and .700 slugging percentage!