Purdue Fort Wayne
Albany
Mastodons Blast Way Out of Mini-Slump
3/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8, 2009
Conway, SC - IPFW's bats exploded for 20 hits today in a 15-6 win over UAlbany on the final day of the Caravelle Resort Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina University.
IPFW will play one final game, tonight at 5:30 p.m. against Creighton University.
The Mastodons jumped all over Great Danes' starter Austin Chase from the opening pitch. Freshman catcher Mason Rovenstine doubled to lead off the game. He advanced to third on a passed ball. He was joined on the base pads by centerfielder Garrett Segraves who drew a walk. With blue and white on the corners, senior shortstop Chris Gottschall jumped all over a Chase fastball sending out over the left field fence for a 3-0 Mastodon lead. It was Gottschall's third homer of the year.
IPFW batted around in the first and got RBI's from designated hitter Scott Micinski, right fielder Ryan Beer, and Segraves for a 6-0 lead.
The 'Dons added two in the 2nd inning on another RBI single off the bat of Micinski.
UAlbany made some noise in the 3rd inning against IPFW starter Josh Shatto. The Great Danes pushed three runs across in the frame highlighted by a lead-off homer by left fielder Gary Pitcheralle.
The Mastodons got those three back in their half of the third on RBI singles by first baseman Shaun VanDriessche, third baseman Mark Carden, and second baseman Jordan Kohler.
Trailing 11-3, UAlbany put up another three-spot in the fourth as Pitcharelle slugged his second homer of the game. His two-run shot and an infield groundout RBI by center fielder Dave West made it 11-6.
On came IPFW senior right hander Stacy Herrold. Herrold shut down the 'Danes the rest of the way. He tossed six complete allowing just two base hits.
The Mastodons put four more on the board the rest of the way, including a two-run homer by VanDriessche (his second of the season) to win going away, 15-6.
Herrold struck out three and walked two for his first win of the season.
Eight of nine Mastodons had multiple hit games. Micinski led the hit parade with four while left fielder J.J. Short and Kohler had three hits.
Gottschall, VanDriessche, and Micinski drove in three runs each.
Chase (0-2) took the loss for UAlbany (1-7). He lasted just 2/3 of an inning, giving up six runs on three hits. He walked five and didn't strike out a batter.
The 'Dons (2-5) face the Blue Jays at 5:30 p.m. Former Mastodons standout and assistant coach Brent Alwine is in his first year on the coach staff at Creighton.
~Dons~
