Offense Comes to Life in 10-9 Win at Denison

Apr 1, 2007

Box Score

GRANVILLE, Ohio – After picking up its first win of the season yesterday (March 31) at Denison University, the Allegheny College baseball team produced its highest scoring output of the season on Sunday, claiming a 10-9 victory over the Big Red in a nine-inning, non-conference affair.

Allegheny (2-14) came up with a season-high 10 runs against Denison’s (6-11) pitching staff, eclipsing its previous high of six achieved several times this spring. The Gators’ two through five hitters provided the offensive spark for the visitors, combining to hit 9-for-18 with five runs scored and nine RBI, led by sophomore Zach Skowvron’s (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) 2-for-5, three RBI day.

The Big Red jumped on the board first against Allegheny starter J.R. Hess (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), tallying a pair of unearned runs without the aid of a hit. The hosts scored both their runs thanks to a throwing error on a stolen base attempt, but Hess was able to get out of the inning by striking out Justin Held with a runner on second.

Allegheny returned the favor in the top of the third inning, tallying five runs on four hits and a pair of miscues by the Denison defense. Skowvron provided the big hit in the inning, knocking home two runs with a bases-loaded single.

After the Gators picked up another run in the fourth inning, the Big Red offense powered up with five runs in the bottom of the frame, once again taking advantage of the Allegheny miscues to take a 7-6 lead.

The visitors wasted little time in bouncing back yet again, knocking around relief pitcher Andy Johnson for four runs in just one-third of an inning in the sixth. After Joe Jurinko (Beaver Falls, Pa./Riverside) reached on a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice, Jimmy Fernandez (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) doubled home the Gator freshman. Junior Eric Rich (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) followed with a run-scoring triple and Skowvron immediately followed with a double to pick up his third RBI of the afternoon. Steve Beckett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) closed the big inning with a run-scoring double of his own to knock Johnson out of the game and put Allegheny up 10-7.

Freshman Justin Abbott (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) came in relief of Hess in the bottom of the six and after surrendering a pair of runs, he held the Big Red bats quiet in the final two frames to pick up his first career save.

All but one of Allegheny’s starting position players managed a hit, led by Beckett’s 3-for-5 performance. He managed a pair of RBI as well, as did Fernandez and Rich. Fernandez pounded out two doubles and Rich and Skowvron each came around to score twice. Jurinko led the team with three runs scored.

The Gators return home on Tuesday, April 3, to face Muskingum College in a non-conference doubleheader. The opening pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

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