AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Keuka College Baseball team continued their spring trip on Monday with a doubleheader against Springfield College in Florida.
Keuka College (0-6) lost a pair of tight games to the Pride. The Wolves fell in the opener 12-11 and then dropped game two 6-4.
Springfield College 12 vs. Keuka College 11 – Game One
Keuka College threatened in the top of the first on singles by Tyler Freedman (Rochester, N.Y. / Aquinas Institute) and Tyler Krowiak (Endwell, N.Y. / Seton Catholic). The Wolves loaded the bases with a walk but stranded them with a strikeout to end the inning. The Pride responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 2-0.
After falling behind 7-0, the Wolves got on the board in the third. Three straight hits led off the inning for Keuka with a double by Tyler Krowiak scoring a run. The Wolves then got runs on a wild pitch and groundout. With two outs, Dave Verrett (Cicero, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse) connected with one for his first home run of the season, a solo shot, making it 7-4. The run continued for the Wolves as Sean Sheets (Manchester, N.Y. / Red Jacket) singled up the middle to score a pair of runs, cutting the margin to one, 7-6.
Springfield again had a response, scoring two runs to lead 9-6 after three innings. Tyler Krowiak tripled and scored in the fourth for the Wolves, but the Pride added runs and led 12-7 after five innings.
In the sixth, the Wolves plated four runs. Brooks Vertoske (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) had the big hit in the inning for Keuka with a two-run single, but the Wolves would still trail 12-11 going to the final inning.
Keuka College led off the top of the seventh inning with a walk by Anthony Brown (Schenectady, N.Y. / Schenectady). He was bunted over to second, however he would be stranded there as the Wolves lost the first game to Springfield 12-11.
Lead Wolf: Tyler Krowiak had a strong game at the plate for the Wolves. The senior catcher was a home run short of the cycle against the Pride. He hit a single, a double, and a triple while scoring two runs and driving in a pair in game one.
Springfield College 6 vs. Keuka College 4 – Game Two
Springfield College would lead the game off with a triple, but were unable to put a run on the board. The Wolves stopped the runner from stealing home on a double steal and then got a double play to escape the inning.
In the bottom for the frame, back-to-back singles by Sheets and Freedman started the game. They ran a double steal the and the throw got away, allowing Sheets to score. Freedman later scored on a groundout as the Wolves led 2-0.
After the Pride scored one in the third, Springfield tied the game in the fourth as they loaded the bases with no outs. Keuka College traded a run for a double play, tying the game at 2-2. Springfield had a chance to take the lead on a passed ball, but catcher Dan Bamann (Rochester, N.Y. / Irondequoit) recollected the ball in time and tagged the runner out at home to end the inning.
Keuka College took the lead back on a two-out, two-run pinch hit single by Anthony Mashewske (Newark, N.Y. / Newark). Springfield answered again in the sixth as they cut the lead to one on a two-out single. The next batter hit a two-run home run to give the Pride the lead. Springfield added an insurance run in the seventh as they defeated Keuka College 6-4.
Lead Wolf: Sean Sheets had a pair of hits and stole a base for Keuka College in game two against Springfield.
KC Notes:
- Monday was the first every meeting between Keuka College and Springfield College in baseball
- Bryan Johnsen (Otisville, N.Y. / Minisink Valley) started the first game for Keuka College on the mound. He moved into the top ten list for career strikeouts and career innings pitched following the game on Monday
- Dan Bamann passed former teammate Dakota Skinner for ninth on the career assists list at Keuka College
- Brooks Vertoske drove in four runs in game one for Keuka, setting a new career-best
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will face the Lions of Albright College on Tuesday in Florida for a doubleheader. It will be the first ever games between Keuka and Albright in baseball.