Grieser Shuts Down No. 7 Shenandoah on Senior Day
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Senior Sean Grieser struck out 11 batters in a complete game effort to defeat No. 7 Shenandoah University in game one by a score of 6-1 before a 1-0 pitcher's duel went the way of the Hornets in game two.
Game 1: 6-1 Virginia Wesleyan Victory
Grieser dominated from the start in the first game of the doubleheader, sitting down the Hornets in order in the top of the first. The Marlins struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, leading throughout the contest.
After Darrell Thompson (4-2) struck out the first two Marlins he faced, Brandon Kussmaul singled to extend the frame. Taylor Erby tripled to center to score Kussmaul for the game's first run before scoring on a Randy Neisz double to left.
The Marlins made it 3-0 in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring double off the bat of Justin Erby.
Shenandoah did not get its first hit off Grieser until the top of the fourth when Jake Loew doubled with two outs. The Marlin lefty worked out of trouble in the frame and wouldn't allow another base hit until the eighth.
C.J. Lindsay, Corey King, and Deon Hammond each drove in a run in the game to make the 6-1 margin.
Grieser (3-2) allowed just one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters in the complete game effort. Taylor Erby and Matt Murray each had three hits in the game.
Game 2: 1-0 Shenandoah Victory
One run scored by the Hornets, unearned, turned out to be the difference in game two.
Zach Herbaugh reached first on an error to start the second inning, moving to second on a groundout. A Lew Johnson single brought Herbaugh home for the game-winning score.
The Marlins tried to even the score in the sixth when Hammond singled with two outs. A balk moved him to second, but Michael Scimanico threw the ball up the line on a pick off move, letting Hammond race to third before play was halted by the umpires. A walk put runners on the corners, but Shenandoah would not let Hammond cross the plate.
Scimanico (5-1) struck out 13 while allowing five hits and two walks in seven innings. Phil Morse picked up his sixth save of the season for Shenandoah (26-8/12-5)
Nick Bay (2-2) threw his best game of the season, allowing just one unearned run in nine innings. He struck out five while allowing four hits and two walks.
Virginia Wesleyan (17-12/11-7) concludes regular season play with an ODAC trip to Eastern Mennonite University (15-18/7-10) next Saturday at noon for a pair of games.