Gators Pick Up Split with Muskingum

Apr 3, 2007

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

MEADVILLE, Pa. – After dropping a 3-2 decision to visiting Muskingum College in the first game, the Allegheny College baseball team returned the favor in the nightcap, pulling out a 3-2 victory to earn a split in the teams’ non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday (April 3) afternoon.

Allegheny (3-15) led the majority of the way in the opener, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in its first at bat. With two outs in the opening frame, junior Eric Rich (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) singled and stole second base. Zach Skowvron (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) followed with a walk, setting up James Fago (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) for the RBI opportunity. The Gator sophomore cashed in, driving both runners in with a double to right-center. Allegheny almost made it a 3-0 lead, but Fago was thrown out at home following a single by Alex Hernberger (Eighty Four, Pa./Canon McMillan) through the right side.

Starting pitcher Pete Obourn (Farmington, N.Y./Victor) held Muskingum (16-4) scoreless through the first three innings, allowing just two singles. The Muskies finally found the scoring column in the fourth as Brock Whiteman led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a fielder’s choice.

Whiteman proved to be Obourn’s nemesis on the day as the Muskingum catcher knotted the game at 2-2 with a solo home run in the sixth inning, and closed a productive day at the plate with a single in the top of the seventh, plating the go-ahead run.

Allegheny threatened in its last at bat, loading the bases with a leadoff single by J.R. Hess (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and a pair of walks, but the visitors sent in closer Ryan McCallister to get the final two outs for his team-best fifth save of the season.

The loss ruined an otherwise good outing from Obourn, who accounted for all but one out, scattering 10 hits, allowing three runs, and striking out four.

The Gators took care of business in the nightcap, using a trio of extra-base hits to score three runs. In the second inning, Hernberger led off with a double down the left field line and subsequently scored on a fielder’s choice later in the inning. Then in the fourth, Skowvron and Steve Beckett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) each rapped doubles down the line in left, the former scoring on a double play and the latter coming around on a Brian Schmidt (Utica, Pa./Franklin) single.

That would be all the production needed by starter Mike Pereslucha (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kiski) and reliever Justin Abbott (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick), who combined to allow two runs on seven hits and three walks. Abbott, who closed the first game as well, allowed just one hit over the final 2.1 innings to pick up his second save of the season in the nightcap.

Allegheny picks up North Coast Athletic Conference East Division play this weekend by hosting Kenyon College for a pair of doubleheaders. The Gators and Lords square off on Saturday, April 7, at 1 p.m., before wrapping up the series on Easter Sunday beginning at noon.

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