Purdue Fort Wayne
SOUTHERN UTAH
Mastodons Drop Twinbill to Thunderbirds
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - Southern Utah took both ends of a Summit League double header on Saturday against IPFW at Mastodons Field.
The Thunderbirds won game one, 7-0 and took the nightcap, 11-6.
Game one featured a dominating pitching performance by junior righthanded starter Kyle Melling. Melling tossed a nine-hit complete game shutout for his fourth win of the season (4-2).
He got all the run support he would need in the 2nd inning as the T-birds plated four runs on three hits, while the 'Dons committed two errors in the inning.
In fact, of the seven Southern Utah runs, only one was earned in the contest.
Melling struck out five, while walking three.
IPFW starter Sam Walker took the loss (0-3). He gave up four runs (all unearned) on three hits. In 2.0 innings, he struck out one and walked one.
In game two, IPFW opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a bases loaded walk by first baseman Shaun VanDriessche.
SUU (14-14, 4-1 SL) tied it in the second and took the lead in the third on an RBI single by designated hitter Bucky Aona.
The Thunderbirds would get three more in the 4th inning to take a 5-1 lead.
IPFW cut into that lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th inning on an RBI double by shortstop Chris Gottschall and an RBI single by VanDriessche.
But in the top of the sixth, the T-birds broke it open with a four-spot on a pair of two-RBI doubles by catcher Garrett Messerly and shortstop Colby Ford.
IPFW plated a pair in the 8th inning, and one in the bottom of the ninth, but came up short 11-6.
Sophomore lefty James Crockett was the game two winner for SUU. He went 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on two hits. He struck out 10 but walked nine.
IPFW starter Stacy Herrold was tagged with the loss, his record falling to 1-4.
Mastodon right fielder Joel Washko had five hits on the afternoon.
With the sweep, IPFW falls to 7-21 and 0-6 in Summit League play.
The two teams will play another double header Sunday morning beginning at 10:00 am.
~Dons~
