April 9, 2008
NEW HAVEN, Conn.--Everyone on the Yale baseball team got a chance to shine on Wednesday afternoon. All but three members of the squad played and eight had at least one hit, as the Bulldogs (13-16-1) won their third straight, 12-4 over Sacred Heart (2-24) at Yale Field. Yale has won five of its last six, and the three-game winning streak is a season-high.
The only three Bulldogs not to get into the game were starting pitchers Alex Christ, Chris Finneran and Brian Irving. All 15 position players had at least one plate appearance, while the other nine pitchers on the roster each tossed an inning.
Yale opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second. After the first two batters of the inning grounded back to the mound, Andrew Kolmar singled, then Andy Megee walked. Gant Elmore was up next and delivered an RBI double to center field. Megee later scored on a wild pitch.
Sacred Heart tied the game in the top of the third. Paul Schmidt singled with the bases loaded for the Pioneers' first run, then Matt Fitton lifted a sacrifice fly to center that tied the game at 2-2.
The Bulldogs went back in front in the fifth when Ryan Lavarnway was intentionally walked to load the bases for Stefan Schropp, who came through with a two-run single. Yale then broke it open with a six-spot in the bottom of the sixth. After Trygg Larsson-Danforth grounded out to start the inning, eight consecutive Bulldogs reached base. Jake Doyle got the rally started with a double to left, then Kolmar was hit by a pitch and Megee walked to load the bases. Elmore drove in a run on an infield single, then Josh Cox grounded into a fielder's choice that brought another runner home. P.J. Gorynski's two-run single to left made it 9-2 and chased Sacred Heart pitcher Eric Romanchuk. New pitcher Mike Drowne walked Lavarnway and Schropp to load the bases, then gave up an RBI single to Andrew Moore that capped the rally.
The Pioneers scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh, but Yale tallied two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Dan Soltman, who had replaced Elmore at short, singled back to the mound with one out, then scored on Chris Sweeney's bases-loaded walk. Drowne's fielding error allowed the 12th Yale run to score. Sacred Heart ended the scoring by putting a run across without the benefit of a hit in the top of the eighth.
Elmore went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Megee went 1-for-2 and scored three times. Gorynski and Schropp each drove in two runs for the Bulldogs. Cox saw his 15-game hitting streak come to an end, but still scored two runs and drove in another. Kolmar also scored twice. Yale's 11 hits were divided among eight players, while seven different Bulldogs scored and six had an RBI. Brandon Josselyn started on the mound and recorded two strikeouts. Matthew Smith (1-0) pitched a perfect fifth to earn his first collegiate win. The Yale pitching staff allowed just five hits and recorded eight strikeouts.
Five different Sacred Heart batters each had one hit and four different Pioneers scored. Fitton was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Corey Corcoran started on the mound for the Pioneers and lasted three innings. He allowed two runs and three hits while striking out one and walking two. Romanchuk (0-1) took the loss after giving up eight runs (six earned) and six hits while walking two in 2.1 innings. Sacred Heart's four pitchers walked 10, compared to just four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs, who are 4-1 at home this season, continue their 11-game homestand with a four-game set against Rolfe Division rival Harvard (2-22, 1-7 Ivy) this weekend. Saturday's doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., while Sunday's twinbill is set for 12 p.m.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity