The Oglethorpe baseball team got its three-game SAA series against Centre off to an excellent start Saturday at Anderson Field, sweeping the visiting Colonels in a doubleheader to post 13 wins over their last 15 games. The Stormy Petrels got a complete-game shutout from junior left-hander KyleMitchell en route to a 6-0 victory in Game 2 after scoring five in the seventh in Game 1 to enact the 10-run rule and defeat the Colonels 11-1 in a seven-inning opening game.
The victories improve the team to 22-11 on the season, 9-7 in SAA play. That keeps them in fifth place in the SAA standings, just a game behind fourth-place Berry and two behind third place Rhodes. The Petrels are now three-and-a-half ahead of sixth-place Hendrix and will secure at least fifth place with one more win. Oglethorpe and Berry will face off in a three-game series in Mount Berry, Ga., next weekend.
In Game 2, Mitchell picked up his third complete game of the season and recorded his first shutout after having a chance to post one during his last complete game against Hendrix on March 28 before allowing an unearned run with one out to go. He was excellent on Saturday, scattering six hits over the course of his seven innings. He issued no walks and struck out three Colonels batters en route to his fourth victory of the season. It looked like he might be denied a shutout again, asCentre laced a base hit to right with two outs in the seventh and a runner on second base. However, sophomore right fielder Brandon Fish cut the run down at the plate to end the game.
Senior right fielder Joey McAlpin was perfect at the plate over the course of Game 2, going 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Senior first baseman T.J. Schmutz and sophomore third baseman Austin Ferlita were both 2-for-3 with a run scored.
The Petrels got off to a big lead in the game's second inning, as junior second baseman KeithDearden led off with a single and advanced to third on a Schmutz single two batters later. McAlpinthen came to the plate and, after having his at-bat extended by a dropped foul ball, took advantage with a solid single to right field, scoring Dearden. Senior left fielder Andre Turnquest drove in two more with a double to the left-center field gap two batters later and then scored on an error after stealing third for his 31st stolen base of the season.
With a 4-0 lead, the Petrels scored two more in the third inning. A one-out double by Ferlita was followed with a two-out single from freshman catcher Adrian Celata, scoring the Oglethorpe third baseman. Schmutz followed with another single and McAlpin came through with his second hit of the game to drive in another and make the score 6-0. It was more than enough for Mitchell on the day.
Game 1 promised to be a pitcher's duel between two of the best hurlers in the league, Oglethorpesophomore right-hander Matt Davis and Centre right-hander Rob Caudill. Davis scattered seven hits, issued a single walk, and allowed just one run while striking out six. Meanwhile, the high-powered Oglethorpe lineup got to Caudill for five earned runs over 5-2/3 innings en route to an 11-1 victory. Davis earned his second complete game of the season and improved to 7-1. His lone run allowed came on a solo home run in the second that gave the Colonels a 1-0 lead. The Petrels jumped on Centre pitching after that, though, scoring multiple runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings.
Turnquest had another solid game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two stolen bases, two runs scored and an RBI. The Petrels also had four men go 2-for-4 over the course of Game 1.
After the Centre home run to take the lead in the second, the Petrels put runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the third. Senior designated hitter Patrick Kulick came through with an RBI double off the glove of the Centre shortstop to tie the game, then Ferlitadrove in two more with a single through the left side of the infield.
With a 3-1 lead, the Petrels gradually expanded it as the game progressed. They picked up a fourth run in the fifth inning when junior shorstop Spencer Transue drove Turnquest home with a would-be RBI groundout on which Transue reached via an error. Then Oglethorpe manufactured two runs in the sixth. McAlpin doubled with one out and Trice laid down a bunt single. Trice then stole second and forced a throwing error on the Centre catcher, allowing McAlpin to score. Then, Trice sped home on a wild pitch, making the score 6-1.
The Petrels then put the game away in the seventh. Back-to-back home runs by Dearden andCelata drove in three runs to make it 9-1. Then, after two singles and an error, the latter allowing another run to score, the Petrels finished the game off when Turnquest hit a slow roller that got through the infield to score pinch-runner Schmutz, ending the game on the 10-run rule, 11-1.
"I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the field today," said Head Coach Dan Giordano. "Our fans have been great all year and it was nice to see parents and alumni tailgating before the game. I'mglad we were able to play well for them. In Game 1, our lineup grinded out some nice ABs against one of the top pitchers in the SAA. We were able to get his pitch count up and take advantage of mistakes. Then, what can I say about Kyle in Game 2? He's been good all year for us and today was no different. He finally got his shutout, so I'm happy for him as he's come close a couple times."
The Petrels will complete the three-game series against Centre Sunday at noon from Anderson Field. It will be Senior Day, as well, as the Stormy Petrels will celebrate the careers of designated hitter Patrick Kulick and outfielders Andre Turnquest, Joey McAlpin and Vernon Trice.