George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
<b>OAKLAND</b>
Baseball Swept by Oakland in Sunday's Doubleheader
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - Oakland University pounded out 24 hits and outscored George Washington, 17-4, as they won two, seven-inning games in a non-conference baseball doubleheader at Barcroft Park in Arlington, VA, on a Sunday afternoon that featured a wind-chill below freezing for most of the action.
The Golden Grizzlies (2-6) won the first game, 10-4, and took game two, 7-0. The doubleheader was played after rain limited the teams to just one of their originally schedule two games yesterday, a game that GW (6-5) won, 19-16.
In game one today, with a 27-degree wind-chill at first pitch, Oakland pitcher Matt Trausch (1-2) went the full seven innings and allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven. Offensively, the visitors jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings, thanks in large part to Rob Merkle, who recorded an RBI-double in the first and a two-RBI single in the second. Three players for Oakland had two hits after the first two frames.
In the bottom of the third, GW answered with four runs of their own, as sophomore Tom Zebroski drove in two runs with a single into right field. Zebroski was followed by senior OF Charlie Kruer, who hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center to make it 8-4. It was Kruer's fourth homer in his last five games. He now has 30 career home runs, which puts him in a tie for eighth all-time at GW, with Mike Welch (1989-92). Brad Rosenblat (2003-05) is seventh, with 31.
Unfortunately, the Colonials would not draw closer, and Oakland added two more runs in the in the top of the seventh to fully secure the 10-4 victory. Andrew Stafford and Taylor Traub both had three hits for the Golden Grizzlies. Tom Zebroski finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Freshman pitcher Eric Cantrell (1-1) suffered the loss for GW, after allowing eight runs and nine hits in five innings, while striking out seven.
In the second game, played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one, the GW bats were again stifled by Oakland pitching. This time, it was sophomore Andrew Estes (1-1). He limited the Colonials to no runs and just five hits while striking out five in a seven-inning, complete game shutout. Rob Merkle again helped to lead the way for the Golden Grizzlies, recording three hits and scoring every time he reached base.
Junior pitcher Chris Neary (0-2) took the loss in the game, the first time the GW offense has been shutout this season. Neary, a native of Phoenix, AZ, lasted five innings and surrendered six runs on 11 hits in a wind-chill that read 33 degrees. Junior Jimmy Duggan struck out five and allowed two hits and one run as he worked the final two innings.
Game one marked the first time this season that junior 1B Tim Reeves has started and not recorded a hit. Reeves, who has now hit safely in nine of his 10 starts, leads the team with a .514 batting average (18-for-35).
In the three-game series, Oakland outscored GW, 33-23, and out-hit the Colonials, 41-33. The two teams combined to hit .365 (GW - .351, OU - .376) with seven home runs and 54 RBI during the offensive-heavy weekend.
George Washington travels to James Madison on Wednesday, Mar. 12, to face the Dukes at 3:00 p.m. GW is 15-33 all-time against JMU.
- GW -
