Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Norwich University baseball team split a doubleheader with Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday, dropping game one 5-4 while winning the second contest by a 4-1 score.
The first game served as a makeup contest and counted in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference with the second serving as a non-conference matchup.
The Cadets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as freshman LaShawn Thomas (San Antonio, Texas) hit a leadoff double to start the rally.
Senior Sean Gerich (Chicago, Ill.) followed with a single to push Thomas to third and then stole second base.
With two outs sophomore Billy Whaley (Northfield, Vt.) drew a walk to load the bases. That set the scene for freshman Matt Sirois (Southington, Conn.) who ripped a 3-RBI double, clearing the bases and putting the Cadets in front 3-0.
Sophomore pitcher Brian Whaley (St. Louis, Mo.) shutout the Wildcats until the sixth inning when Korey Ferullo hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Norwich got that run back in the top of the seventh as sophomore Brian Baker (Keene, N.H.) scored Thomas from third on a single to make it 4-1.
Billy Whaley came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh and the Wildcats put their rally caps on as they loaded the bases with one out.
Ty Karalis was hit by a pitch to force a run in and make it 4-2, after a lineout Ferullo drew a walk to cut it to force in another run and make it 4-3.
Carlos Sanabria was the hero as he singled down the right field line, completing the comeback and giving JWU the 5-4 win.
Brian Whaley had a no-decision for the Cadets despite a line of six innings pitched and one earned run on four hits and one walk. He struck out one batter.
Billy Whaley took the loss to fall to 2-3 after two-thirds of an inning and four runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk. He also struck out one batter.
Rob West got the win for the Wildcats in a complete game effort. Over seven innings he allowed four earned funs on nine hits and three walks.
Thomas led the Cadet offense with three hits, while Gerich and Sirois each added two.
In game two Norwich scored again in the top of the first inning after a Thomas leadoff single and a theft of second base, senior Devin Cilley (Tunbridge, Vt.) hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield to give the Cadets an early 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats got that run back in the home half of the inning on a Ryan Cabral RBI single to tie the game 1-1.
The Cadets took the lead for good in the top of the third inning after another leadoff single from Thomas. He then stole second and Gerich followed with an RBI single to centerfield that plated Thomas and put the score at 2-1.
Gerich reached on a bunt single in the top of the sixth and eventually came around to score on a failed pickoff attempt for a 3-1 edge.
Norwich plated a fourth run in the top of the seventh on a Thomas RBI single that plated freshman Donovan Murby (Manchester, N.H.).
Sophomore Kevin Gadowski (Chandler, Ari.) picked up the win for the Cadets pitching two innings of relief, allowing just one hit, to improve to 1-0 on the season.
Senior Scott Yashinski (Kintnersville, Pa.) picked up his first save of the season after tossing a perfect seventh inning.
Brian Quinlan took the loss to fall to 1-1 after allowing one run on two hits in two innings of relief work. He struck out two batters.
Thomas led the Norwich offense for the second-straight game with three hits and a walk, capping a perfect day at the plate.
The Cadets now stand at 7-12 overall and 6-3 in the GNAC while the Wildcats are now 24-9 overall and 4-8 in GNAC play.
The Cadets are scheduled to host Albertus Magnus College on Saturday April 19th for a GNAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
