March 29, 2008
Bullets Dust Shoremen In Twinbill
Perret Drives In Both WC Runs In Game Two

CHESTERTOWN, MD - Visiting Gettysburg College held host Washington College to four combined runs in a Centennial Conference baseball doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon at Athey Field. Gettysburg won the first game, 8-2, and downed the Shoremen, 7-2, in the second game. The Bullets improve to 12-11 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while the Shoremen fall to 5-8 and 1-3 respectively.

In the opener, Gettysburg got a run in the top of the first on a single through the left side by Mike Backus that plated Chris Simard. Washington responded with a run in the bottom of the first when sophomore Matt Boucher (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) doubled down the left field line to plate senior James Tidwell (Newark, DE/Charter School of Wilmington). The Bullets took the lead for good in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Backus that plated Sean McGee to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Bullets took a 3-1 lead when Kevin Langhauser singled to right field driving in Simard from second base.

Gettysburg broke open the game with a five-run seventh inning, all coming after two outs. Backus highlighted the inning with a two-run double down the right field that knocked in two runners. The Shoremen got one in the bottom of the seventh, when junior Joe Coveney (Madison, NJ/Madison) scored Tidwell on a groundout.

Michael Sweeney recorded the win for Gettysburg in game one, scattering nine hits in going the distance. He is now 1-0 on the season. Sophomore Chris Smith (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) took the loss and falls to 2-3. Smith tossed 6 2/3 innings on the day.

Langhauser went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the victory for the Bullets. Simard and Scott Vladyka each had two hits, with Backus driving in two runs. For Washington, Tidwell went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while junior Doug Lutz (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) and Boucher had two hits each. Junior Rob Rifkin (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) threw out two Gettysburg runners trying to steal bases.

In the nightcap, the Bullets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Backus plated Simard on an RBI single through the right side. The Shoremen responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to grab a 2-1 lead on a two-out, two-run single by junior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard) that knocked in Coveney and Boucher.

Gettysburg evened the nightcap at 2-2 in the top of the third with a two-out single by Dave Olson that drove in Backus. The guests took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth with another two-out hit off the bat of Matt Stillitano that scored Langhauser.

In the top of the sixth Gettysburg tacked on two runs with back-to-back two out walks to make it 5-2. The Bulllets added another run in the top of the eighth when McGee scored on a wild pitch to give the visitors a 6-2 cushion. In the top of the ninth, Vladyka made it 7-2 on a sacrifice fly that chased Andrew Burton home.

Chris Liegel tallied the win in game two for Gettysburg and improves to 2-2. He allowed eight hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work. Matt Karis tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two. For Washington, sophomore Chris Keiper (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) took the loss and drops to 1-2. He allowed five runs, three earned in 5 1/3 innings.

For the Bullets in game two, Langhauser went 2-for-4 with an RBI and was 5-for-8 in the twinbill. The visitors got two RBI performances from Backus and Stillitano, while Olson went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the nightcap. For the Shoremen, Boucher and Coveney each had two hits and a run scored, while Perret had both RBI for the hosts in game two.

The Shoremen host in-state rival Johns Hopkins in a Centennial Conference tilt on Tuesday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE