Grizzlies back on track

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By Matt Muncy, March 24, 2009

“We are one game out of first place and have a lot of games left,” said head coach Lance Marshall. “We just have to continue to compete.”

 

The Grizzlies were able to jump out to an 8-1 lead in Friday’s game before the Lions scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Grizzlies were unable to answer and the Lions added three more runs in the seventh to take the game 12-8.

 

“It was a combination of pitching and defense. We just didn’t play behind Luke,” said Marshall. “College baseball is an offensive game and usually when a team scored more runs in one inning than the other teams does in the whole game, they will win.”

 

Sophomore Alex Boone and senior Jim Swienconek each went 3-5 with two RBIs. Starting pitcher, junior Luke Mehringer, threw four and two thirds innings giving up eight runs on eight hits with three of the runs earned.  Senior Trent Dahlstrom was credited with the loss after giving up two hits and one run in the fifth, facing only two batters.

 

The Grizzlies were able to bounce back Saturday and sweep the Lions 14-3 and 9-8. Game one was scheduled for seven innings and game two was scheduled for nine.

In game one, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Lions were able to put any runs on the scoreboard. The Grizzlies opened the game with a two-run homer by senior Lance Noel in the first inning. They added three more runs in the first and another five in the second. In the third the Grizzlies put three more on the board before the Lions were able to muster two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Lions added one in the fifth and the Grizzlies added one in the top of the seventh before the game.

 

“Our guys are getting quality at-bats and they have had real good approaches in our first fifteen games,” said Marshall

 

Sophomore Derrik Patterson improved to 3-0 after getting the start for the Grizzlies.

 

Senior Adam Blackburn, Noel, and senior Joel Chrobak each had three hits. Noel finished with four RBIs and Boone added three more RBIs to his weekend total.

 

Game two was played more balance between the two teams. Neither team had a commanding lead at any given time. The Grizzlies got out the gate for the third game in a row, scoring two runs in the top of the first while the Lions scored one. The Grizzlies added four in the top of the third, but the Lions countered with two of their own, making the game 6-3. The Lions scored two in the fifth to get within one, but was unable to catch the Grizzlies. Franklin scored one in the seventh and two in the ninth to put the game out of reach. The Lions tried to tie the game with runners on second and third after scoring three runs in the ninth, but grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.

 

Freshman Shawn Mattingly improved to 3-0 after his sixth appearance of the season and his first start of the year. Sophomore Cody Nees pitched four innings and earned his second save of the year.

 

“Mattingly earned his first start because of his previous performance. He came back on three days’ rest and held them down,” said Marshall. “We are pleased with his performance lately.”

 

Sophomore Ian Sanders had a big day with five RBIs off only one hit. His lone hit came in the ninth when he hit a triple to left-center, scoring two.

 

The Grizzlies travel to Defiance College 4-11 (1-2) this weekend for a three-game series. They play Friday at 4 p.m. and a double header Saturday starting at noon.