Purdue Fort Wayne
CENTENARY
Mastodon Bats Explode in Series Opening Rout
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 25, 2008
Fort Wayne, IN - After being shutout by Notre Dame, 5-0 in a non-conference game Wednesday night, IPFW exploded for 19 hits and 16 runs in a series opening, 16-5 win over Centenary Friday at Mastodons Field.
The 19 hits pounded out by the 'Dons was their second highest hit total of the season. They recorded 20 hits in a 21-13 win over Southern Utah back on April 3.
The game had an ominous start for IPFW as Centenary's first batter, center fielder Jomar Tabor touched up starter Brandon Knowling with a lead-off home run.
IPFW would answer in their half of the first with RBI's by center fielder Jared Davis, designated hitter Chris Gottschall, and right fielder Garrett Segraves.
The Mastodons added to their, 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second.
Catcher Devin Taylor laid down a perfect suicide squeeze to score second baseman Scott Micinski. Davis notched his second RBI of the afternoon with a single through the left side that scored shortstop Mark Carden.
Centenary closed the gap to 5-4 courtesy of a two-run double by first baseman Cameron Penney and an RBI singe by DH Ryan Bernsen.
In the 5th inning, the Mastodons put up a four-spot to break the game wide open, the big blow being a Segraves two-run double.
Leading 9-4, the 'Dons poured it on in the 7th inning. With the sacks full of Mastodons, Carden cleared them with a three-run double to left center.
Gottschall plated his third run of the game with a double down the right field line.
First baseman Shaun VanDriessche topped of the seven-run frame with a two-run blast to left center. It was VanDriessche's eighth home run of the year.
Knowling, pitching into a stiff wind, got his fifth win of the season (5-0). He gave up four runs on 10 hits. He struck out one while walking three.
Centenary starter Dakota Robinson took the loss (4-2). He gave up nine earned on 12 hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Davis and Carden led the IPFW hit parade with four each. Carden drove in four, while Davis plated three.
Segraves had three hits and three RBI. Gottschall, third baseman Jimmy Gilliland, and Micinski each had two hits.
With the win, IPFW improves to 10-25-1 and 6-7 in Summit League play.
The Gents fall to 22-17 and 5-8 in conference action.
The middle-two games of the series will be played on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.
~Dons~
