March 2, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va.--Brian Irving struck out 13 and did not walk a batter while yielding just five hits and two runs over seven innings, as the Yale baseball team (1-2) picked up its first victory of the season, 4-2 over George Washington (5-1) Sunday afternoon at Barcroft Park. Ryan Lavarnway provided the offense for the Bulldogs, belting a three-run home run.
The Colonials struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. After Brian Hwang and Tom Zebroski singled to open the inning, Hwang scored when Charlie Kruer grounded into a double play. Irving got Curtis Eward looking to end the inning and start a stretch in which he retired 10 of the next 11 Colonials he faced. After Doug Eizen singled with two down in the second, Irving retired the next seven in a row. Tim Reeves broke up the string when he homered leading off the fifth inning. Irving surrendered a single to Eizen, then retired nine straight before exiting the game.
Lavarnway's blast came in the top of the third. Gant Elmore flied to right to open the inning, then Josh Cox and Stefan Schropp each singled. On the second pitch he saw, Lavarnway turned on one down the left field line for his second home run of the year. The Bulldogs added another tally in the top of the ninth when Andy Megee hit a leadoff double, then came around on a sacrifice bunt and Elmore's RBI fielder's choice.
Irving (1-0) gave way to Chris Walsh in the eighth. Walsh and Vinny Lally got through the inning before Steve Gilman took over in the ninth. Gilman gave up a hit and struck out two to earn his first career save. The four Yale hurlers combined for 16 strikeouts and no walks in the game. Cox and Lavarnway each had three hits for Yale. As a team, the Bulldogs tallied nine hits.
Chris Neary (0-1) got the start for the Colonials and went five innings. He surrendered three hits and four runs while striking out five and walking four. Zebroski, Reeves and Eizen combined for six of George Washington's seven hits. They each went 2-for-4, while Reeves, who went 5-for-5 in Saturday's doubleheader, added that solo home run.
The Bulldogs now have a week off before beginning their two-week southern trip. Yale begins its swing of 15 games in 15 days with a doubleheader against Appalachian State in Davidson, N.C., on Saturday.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity