Mastodons Keep Postseason Hopes Alive with Split

Friday, May 21

Fort Wayne, Ind.

12:00 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

15-37, 0

Centenary

27-22, 0

Centenary (LA)

IPFW

Mastodons Keep Postseason Hopes Alive with Split

5/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

May 21, 2010

Game 1 | Game 2

Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW's drive for its first-ever Summit League postseason tournament berth is still alive after a doubleheader split with Centenary on Friday afternoon at Mastodon Field.

Centenary came on late to win Game 1, 11-6 while the 'Dons won a rain-shortened Game 2, 4-1.

The split gives IPFW an identical 12-14 record with Oakland.  The Golden Grizzlies rode a Game 2 no hitter by Aaron Wick to sweep a twinbill with Southern Utah in Rochester, Michigan on Friday afternoon.  Oakland has won three of the four games this week with Southern Utah and will complete their series on Saturday afternoon.  IPFW has two remaining with the Gents.

The outcome for the fourth and final playoff spot could come down to percentage points.  If Oakland completes the sweep of SUU, IPFW will have to win both games on Saturday to advance.  If Oakland loses, IPFW will need to win one of two.

In Game 1, IPFW took a 3-0 lead in bottom of the 3rd inning on a bases loaded double by DH Brett Clark.

The Gents (27-23, 16-8) got two back in the top of the fourth on RBI's by shortstop Alex Todd and DH Michael Tompkins, and tied it in the fifth on an RBI double to right center by third baseman Scott Pasket.

The Mastodons would push ahead again in the bottom of the fifth as right fielder Daren Boss scored a pair with an RBI single back through the box and first baseman A.J. Christensen added another with a single through the right side.

But leading 6-3, the IPFW defense couldn't help starter Nick Optiz.  With a man on, Tompkins looked like he would ground into a double-play, but the Mastodons couldn't turn it with all Gents reaching safely.  Centenary capitalized on the mistake and scored four times to take a 7-6 lead.

The score remained 7-6 until the 9th inning when CC right fielder Cliff Shepard put it away with a three-run blast to left.  Centenary tacked on one more for the 11-6 final.

Centenary reliever Trey McGee got the win (1-0) tossing 1.2 innings.  He gave up three hits and didn't allow a run.  He fanned two and walked one.

Opitz took the loss (5-4).  He gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 6.0 innings.  He struck out eight and walked three.

In Game 2, IPFW stroked the longball.  Brendan Landwehr hit a solo shot in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. 

Boss drilled his sixth homer, a two-run shot, in the third and Shaun VanDriessche finished it off with a solo shot, his 17th of the year, to finish out the inning.

Centenary pushed a run across in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Pasket, but at the end of the top of the fifth, lightning began to fly over Mastodon Field.  During the lightning delay, the skies opened up and ended the game in the fifth.

IPFW starter Matt Antos got the win (4-6).  He gave up just the one run on five hits.  He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third by striking out the final two batters.  He fanned six and walked two.

CC starter Cole Thompson was the loser (1-2).  He was touched up for all four Mastodon runs.  In 3.0 innings of work, he struck out three and walked one.

With the split, IPFW stands at 16-37 and 12-14 in Summit League play.

Weather and field conditions permitting, the final two games of the campaign will be played Saturday afternoon beginning at noon.  For updated game information check www.gomastodons.com.

~Dons~