'Necks pile 30 hits hits to IPFW
Bill Welt
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Sports
The Leathernecks baseball team brought out an offensive onslaught against IPFW Saturday as it piled up a total of 30 hits in its double header.
Senior infielder Drew Laidig led the 'Necks in both games as he drove in seven runs with two home runs Saturday.
Game 1
The offensive firepower began in the third inning as the 'Necks trailed 4-3 when senior outfielder Kenny Price hit a double to knock in two runs to grab the lead permanently in Game 1.
Laidig built on the lead in the fourth when he hit his first home run of the day after senior catcher Cooper Stewart led the inning off with a double.
Western blew the game wide open when senior infielder Lorenzo Gallaga hit a single to tally two more runs in the sixth as the 'Necks built a commanding lead.
After the Mastodons' pitching squad struggled and hit three batters to bring in three additional runs, the 'Necks were leading 16-4. Western would go on to win the game 19-10.
Senior right-handed pitcher Eric Eden (3-4) struggled early giving up four runs in the first two innings, but later shutdown the Mastodons' offense by striking out eight batters through six innings and allowed no runs after two innings. Eden was given credit for the win.
Game 2
The 'Necks offense kept rolling in the second game versus the Mastodons as Western won the game with a consecutive double-digit run game.
Western grabbed the lead in the sixth when Gallaga knocked in the eventual game-winning run to make the score 5-4. Stewart gave additional padding to the lead 6-4 later in the inning with his RBI single, which brought home Gallaga.
The 'Necks extended the lead by eight runs in the seventh, which began with a double by senior infielder Tyler Metcalf to drive in Laidig. Costly walks in the seventh let Laidig get one more at-bat in the seventh where he capitalized with a single for two RBIs bringing the score to 10-2.
"Today we had a very balanced attack throughout the entire lineup," said head coach Stan Hyman. "What was great today was we responded when they took lead in the first game and when they tied it in the second game. Offensively our guys are doing an incredible job of immediately responding to adversity."
The pitching struggled in the eighth, though, when junior left-handed pitcher Jordan Faller gave up a three run home homer. The Mastodons tallied one more run in the eighth to bring the score to 10-6.
Those would be the final runs scored by the Mastodons as junior left-hander Austin Brough gained a save by pitching the final 1.2 innings.
Laidig scored his fourth and final run in the ninth to add to the lead. On top of his superb offensive performance, Laidig picked up a win with his pitching, striking out four and allowing two runs in five innings.
"To continue winning though," Hyman said, "We have to cut down on the walks. It didn't hurt us today as much as it could have because our pitchers were able to get out of the situations they were in. Today we got away with it because our offense has been swinging it so well."
Western will travel to Champaign, Ill. for its next game to face the Illini Tuesday, May 5.
Senior infielder Drew Laidig led the 'Necks in both games as he drove in seven runs with two home runs Saturday.
Game 1
The offensive firepower began in the third inning as the 'Necks trailed 4-3 when senior outfielder Kenny Price hit a double to knock in two runs to grab the lead permanently in Game 1.
Laidig built on the lead in the fourth when he hit his first home run of the day after senior catcher Cooper Stewart led the inning off with a double.
Western blew the game wide open when senior infielder Lorenzo Gallaga hit a single to tally two more runs in the sixth as the 'Necks built a commanding lead.
After the Mastodons' pitching squad struggled and hit three batters to bring in three additional runs, the 'Necks were leading 16-4. Western would go on to win the game 19-10.
Senior right-handed pitcher Eric Eden (3-4) struggled early giving up four runs in the first two innings, but later shutdown the Mastodons' offense by striking out eight batters through six innings and allowed no runs after two innings. Eden was given credit for the win.
Game 2
The 'Necks offense kept rolling in the second game versus the Mastodons as Western won the game with a consecutive double-digit run game.
Western grabbed the lead in the sixth when Gallaga knocked in the eventual game-winning run to make the score 5-4. Stewart gave additional padding to the lead 6-4 later in the inning with his RBI single, which brought home Gallaga.
The 'Necks extended the lead by eight runs in the seventh, which began with a double by senior infielder Tyler Metcalf to drive in Laidig. Costly walks in the seventh let Laidig get one more at-bat in the seventh where he capitalized with a single for two RBIs bringing the score to 10-2.
"Today we had a very balanced attack throughout the entire lineup," said head coach Stan Hyman. "What was great today was we responded when they took lead in the first game and when they tied it in the second game. Offensively our guys are doing an incredible job of immediately responding to adversity."
The pitching struggled in the eighth, though, when junior left-handed pitcher Jordan Faller gave up a three run home homer. The Mastodons tallied one more run in the eighth to bring the score to 10-6.
Those would be the final runs scored by the Mastodons as junior left-hander Austin Brough gained a save by pitching the final 1.2 innings.
Laidig scored his fourth and final run in the ninth to add to the lead. On top of his superb offensive performance, Laidig picked up a win with his pitching, striking out four and allowing two runs in five innings.
"To continue winning though," Hyman said, "We have to cut down on the walks. It didn't hurt us today as much as it could have because our pitchers were able to get out of the situations they were in. Today we got away with it because our offense has been swinging it so well."
Western will travel to Champaign, Ill. for its next game to face the Illini Tuesday, May 5.
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