Box Score
COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Norwich University
baseball team was unable to complete the season sweep of St.
Michael's College on Thursday afternoon, as the Cadets
dropped a 7-4 decision to the Purple Knights in a non-league
contest at Doc Jacobs Field.
Norwich (7-24) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as
Travis Dyke walked to begin the game, moved to second on a
sacrifice bunt by Joe Sleeman and scored on Dustin Shimkus'
RBI single to right center field.
St. Michael's (6-22-1) tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom
of the first as the Purple Knights pushed across an unearned run.
After a scoreless second inning, SMC broke the game open with
four runs in the third. Tim Pilczak ripped a two-run double down
the left field line to plate the first two runs of the frame, and
Collin Fishman lined a two-run single to center to drive in the
other two runs. The four-run uprising helped St. Michael's
establish a 5-1 advantage after three innings.
Norwich got one run back in the top of the fourth when the
Cadets plated an unearned run. It appeared as though NU might put
together a big inning, but the Cadets left the bases loaded.
St. Michael's extended its lead to 7-2 in the fifth inning
on a two-run single by Pete Estes. Norwich made things interesting
in the eighth inning as the Cadets scored twice on a Sleeman single
and a two-base fielding error, cutting their deficit to 7-4 and
chasing Fishman from the game. Matt Dunn closed the threat with a
groundout to shortstop, and Rob McCarty pitched an uneventful ninth
to pick up the save.
Fishman (1-2) picked up his first collegiate victory on the
mound for the Purple Knights, allowing just two earned runs in 7.2
innings pitched.
Seth Knihtila (0-2) took the loss for the Cadets as the Norwich
starter yielded four earned runs on four hits and four walks in 3.0
innings of work. Ben Kleiner came on and threw 3.0 innings of
relief, allowing just one earned run on four hits and two walks.
Brad Hudson and Ian Caird each worked one inning of hitless relief.
David Maxfield singled twice and scored a run to lead the Cadets
at the plate, while Dustin Shimkus added a single, a run scored, an
RBI and a stolen base.
Patrick Lawler, Matt Beaulieu and Fishman each produced two hits
apiece to spark the Purple Knights' eight-hit attack.
Norwich will return to action on Saturday, April 24, when the
Cadets travel to Standish, Maine, to face St. Joseph's
College (Maine) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)
doubleheader. The league twinbill carries a great deal of playoff
significance for Norwich. The Cadets, who have clinched a berth in
the conference tourney for the first time since 2005, can finish
anywhere between fourth and sixth in the final league standings.
