Box Score For only the second time in NCAA Regional history, the Griffins dropped their opening game in the regional. This time the Griffins fell by a 5-2 score to #4 seed Winston Salem State at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, PA. The Griffin bats did not come thru as they could only muster 5 hits and went 0-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base. SHU drops to 42-12 on the season.
Winston Salem State scored in its first at bat of the contest. They put together three singles around a sacrifice bunt to take the 1-0 lead. The Griffins loaded the bases in the first on a single by
Garret Vrbanic, hit by pitch by
Anthony Fanelli and a walk to
Chris Miller but
Cody Herald hit into a double play to end the inning. SHU put runners on base in each of the next three innings but could not score and trailed 1-0 after four innings.
After an out, Miller singled and Herald walked in the sixth. A groundout moved the runners up to second and third with two outs but a fly out to right ended the Griffins sixth with WSSU leading 1-0. The Rams added two unearned runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. SHU got one run back in the bottom of the seventh.
Matt Malacane drew a leadoff walk and
Taylor Schmidt singled to chase WSSU starter Sam Burton. Vrbanic moved the runners up with a sac bunt. Fanelli then singled in Malacane but a fly out by
Nick Sell ended the seventh. WSSU added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to increase their lead to 5-1.
The Griffins loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with no one out but could only score one run.
Pat McCarthy led off with a double. Malacane was hit by a pitch and Schmidt walked to load the bases. Vrbanic scored McCarthy with a groundout. Fanelli then fouled out to the catcher and Sell grounded out to second to end the game.
Five different Griffins each had one hit each. Brett Sulllivan suffered the loss. He went 6 1/3 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits.
SHU will look to stay alive in the regional when they play host and #1 seed Mercyhurst at 1:30 PM on Friday afternoon.
