April 2, 2017

Williams no-hitter, Kopas walkoff highlight sweep of Albright

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STEVENSON, Md. – Stevenson sophomore Dan Williams threw the second no-hitter in Mustang baseball program history to open a doubleheader against Albright College, and a walkoff single by senior Kevin Kopas capped a doubleheader sweep of the Lions in MAC Commonwealth action Sunday at Sugar Field.  Stevenson (10-13, 4-5 MAC Commonwealth) won 4-0 in the opener and completed the sweep with a 4-3 triumph.

With the wins, Stevenson extends its win streak to a season-high four games.

Williams' no-hitter is the second in Stevenson baseball history and the first since April 11, 2005, when Gary Sanders no-hit SUNY Purchase.  Williams threw 96 pitches, 61 for strikes, and struck out five while walking two.  He faced just two batters over the minimum and improved his record to 3-1 on the season.  Williams recorded back-to-back swinging strikeouts of Noah Beebe and Tanner Brescancine to end the game and close out the no-no.

The Mustangs grabbed three runs from Albright (6-12, 2-7 MAC Commonwealth) in the second then tacked on a run in the fifth. In the second, a bases-loaded sac fly by sophomore Jordan Moore scored junior Billy Small, while a single to center by junior Jake Hall brought in junior Michael Rhodes and sophomore Connor Wasilnak.

In the fifth, sophomore Matthew Kerber singled to left-center with one out, then after stealing second and moving to third on a base hit by junior John D'Aquanno, scored on a Kopas sac fly to center.

Stevenson finished with seven hits in the opener, with Kerber and D'Aquanno each recording two hits.

In the nightcap, the Mustangs trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh.  Junior Jake Dimon led off the inning with a double to right, and was lifted for a pinch runner, freshman Kevin Murray, Jr.  Freshman Kyle Weidemeyer put down a sac bunt attempt that went back to Lion pitcher Trevor Mastria.  Mastria tried to erase the lead runner in Murray, but he slid under the tag to give Stevenson runners at the corners and nobody out.

Hall singled to shallow left, allowing Murray to tie the game and moving Weidemeyer to second.  Kerber then attempted to get down a sac bunt, but Mastria was able to get Weidemeyer, the lead runner, on a force at third.

With D'Aquanno at the plate, both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and facing a 3-0 count, Albright elected to issue an intentional walk to load the bases.  With the infield drawn in, Kopas singled just to the left of second base, allowing Hall to scamper home with the winning run.

Albright plated single runs in the third and fourth innings before Stevenson tied the game with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth.  A single by Dimon scored Wasilnak, who reached on a fielders' choice, while Rhodes scored on a wild pitch after reaching on an error.  The Lions scraped together another run in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.

Hall and Dimon each had two hits as the Mustangs were outhit 11-7 in the nightcap.  Senior Matt Phillips earned the win in relief, working the final 1.2 innings and allowing one hit.  Stevenson starter Zach Kaye allowed eight hits and three runs in 4.1 innings, striking out one and walking one.

Mastria took the loss in relief for Albright, allowing five hits and two runs in 2.2 innings.

With Monday's game against Eastern cancelled, Stevenson returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Catholic in a 3:30 game at Sugar Field.