May 10, 2008

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, CT - Mike Marmo tied the opening game with an RBI triple in the ninth and scored the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly as the Quinnipiac Bobcats took game one, 3-2, on the way to a doubleheader sweep in Northeast Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon. The two losses put the Pioneers on the brink of elimination from the playoff picture.

SHU starter Chris Barthel gave up a leadoff homer to Ben Farina, but yielded just one more hit through eight innings of work.

Quinnipiac hurler Andy Mayer kept the Pioneers off board until giving up an unearned run in the fifth. A one-out error by the Bobcat shortstop put a runner in scoring position and MJ Schifano made it hurt with an RBI single.

The Pioneers took a 2-1 lead with another unearned run in the sixth. Paul Schmidt doubled with the bases empty and two outs and scored when Matt Fitton hit a ball to second and the throw was mishandled by the Bobcat first baseman.

Barthel hit John Delaney with a pitch to lead off the ninth. He got the next batter to pop out in foul territory. Marmo follwed by ripping a ball down the right field line to plate Delaney with the tying run. The next hitter was Mike Amanti and he lifted a fly to medium center field that was caught by Mike Drowne, but his throw home was late as Marmo tagged up and scored the go-ahead run.

Chris Gloor relieved Mayer in the bottom of the ninth and struck out Schmidt to start the frame. He hit Fitton, but got Chris Whittemore on a foul popup. SHU catcher Steve Armato kept his team's hopes alive by lacing a single to center on the tenth pitch of his at bat. Drowne was next and also forced Gloor to throw ten pitches before walking to load the bases. The big Quinnipiac lefty struck out Schifano swinging to end the threat and earn his second save of the year.

The second game was a one-sided affair as the Bobcats pounded out 22 runs and 25 hits against four Pioneer pitchers. Pete Kummerfelt and Bry Doyle each had five hits to pace the attack. Delaney had four hits and five RBI.

Tyler Brett held the Pioneers to just three hits to up his record to 4-5. He struck out six and walked just one.