Purdue Fort Wayne
Albany
'Dons Let One Slip Away
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 6, 2009
Conway, SC - IPFW had things going their way until the fifth inning today in the Carvelle Resort Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina, but Albany stormed back to beat the Mastodons, 9-6.
IPFW raced out to a 6-0 over the Great Danes. The Mastodons got an unearned run in the first, and then put a four-spot on the board in the fourth.
Shortstop Chris Gottschall got it started with a double to left field. First baseman Shaun VanDriessche chased him home with a double down the left field line. The big blow of the inning came from the bat of Jordan Kohler who launched a three-run homer to left center. It was Kohler's second homer of the season.
Gottschall gave the Mastodons a 6-0 lead in the top of the 5th with a solo shot to left center. It was his second blast of the season as well.
But, just as IPFW began to see the finish line, UAlbany's bats began to heat up.
The Great Danes got a single run in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth courtesy of a two-run homer by first baseman Pete Eichner and a solo blast from second baseman Kyle Crean. The back-to-back homers but the 'Dons lead to just two.
UAlbany tied it in the 7th inning on a two-run homer by right fielder Brendan Rowland.
The Danes iced it in the 8th inning on a leadoff homer by designated hitter Mike Tirri They added two more insurance runs in the inning for the 9-6 final.
Senior reliever Mike Gregory came on in the fifth and tossed 4-1/3 innings of three-hit ball to allow UAlbany to get back into the game. He got the win (1-0) striking out four 'Dons while walking one.
Junior reliever Andrew Emge took the loss for the Mastodons (1-1). He gave up two runs on two hit in an inning of work. He struck out one.
With the loss, the 'Dons fall to 1-4 on the young campaign. The Mastodons will face Stony Brook on Saturday at the Carvelle Resort Classic. Game time is 7:00 p.m.
~Dons~
