Saturday, April 8, 2006

Cougar GameDay program

Game 1 Box score
Game 2 Box score

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The University of Saint Francis split a baseball doubleheader with Spring Arbor University at Cougar Field today. The visiting Cougars took advantage of two unearned runs to win game one 2-0 and USF turned the trick on SAU with a 3-1 triumph in the nightcap.

Game one starter Cody Casagrande (1-4) pitched a complete-game six-hitter for the Cougars, but was victimized by three USF errors. Spring Arbor's 6-10 righty Brad Hinkle (4-2) allowed eight hits and two walks in seven innings, but worked out of several tight situations with six strikeouts. USF left 10 runners on base in the game, six in scoring position. Freshman outfielder Jake Trahin went 3-for-4 in the loss.

The Cougars took advantage of some gifted opportunities in the second game, scoring two in the second inning to jump out front 2-0. Jason Beer crossed home with the first Cougar run on a wild pitch by SAU hurler Jeff Tebeau and Mike Ybarra scored the second run on a wild play that started with Matt Altenburger missing on a suicide squeeze attempt. With Ybarra halfway toward the plate, Spring Arbor catcher Lucas Rider ran the diminutive baserunner back toward third, before throwing late to teammate Scott Edwards. After Edwards received the ball, he saw Jon Degitz off second and threw the ball into right field in an attempt to catch the Cougar third baseman. Ybarra scored easily on the error but Degitz was eventually gunned down at the plate on the sequence.

After Spring Arbor cut the USF lead in half with a run in the sixth, the Cougars answered with a Josh Widman sac fly the plated Mickey Cassidy from third to carry a two-run lead into the seventh.

SAU (18-11, 7-5 MCC) started the seventh with two-straight singles, but Altenburger threw out Tom Compian at third on Seth Michael's sac bunt attempt before McCarty coaxed Jesse Bachman and Scott Edwards to fly out to center, ending the game. McCarty, who won for the fourth time in as many MCC starts, scattered nine hits, while striking out four.

USF (11-20, 5-7 MCC) return to action at Cougar Field tomorrow, Sunday, April 9, with two games against Purdue-North Central, beginning at 1 p.m. PNC swept the Cougars in Westview, Ind., late last month.

-- GO USF --