Gators Split Marathon Doubleheader

Mar 15, 2008

GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Allegheny baseball team (1-1) opened the 2008 campaign by splitting a doubleheader with the Wentworth Institute of Technology (7-3). The Gators fell 13-5 in the opener but were able to return the favor with a 21–17 win in a marathon nightcap. Junior catcher Alex Herrnberger (Eighty Four, Pa./Canon McMillan) highlighted the day by hitting homeruns from both sides of the plate.

In game one, Wentworth opened the scoring in the second with a two-out, two-run double by Pete Oggeri. The Leopards added to their lead with a six-run third inning that included four straight hits with two outs.

The Gators answered with three in the bottom of the third after a solo homer by Brian Schmidt (Utica, Pa./Franklin) and a two-run shot from the left side by Herrnberger. The leadoff round tripper was the first in the career of Schmidt.

The Leopards picked up two more in the fifth and seventh with Allegheny unable to get any closer.

Colt Viehdorfer (Morrisdale, Pa./West Branch) was saddled with the loss for the Gators while striking out four in 4.1 innings of work. Aaron Skalko (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane), pictured left, was effective in relief, striking out three in 1.2 innings of perfect baseball.

Herrnberger and Zack Skowvron (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) each collected two hits while Mike Pereslucha (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski) drove in two with a 1-for-3 effort at the plate.

In game two, it was Allegheny striking first when James Fago (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) connected on a three-run homer to left with one out in the top of the second. Senior Matt Young (State College, Pa./State College) added to the Gator lead later in the frame with a two-run triple to right center.

Allegheny didn’t stop there, scoring eight more times in the third inning with Herrnberger, adding his second homer of the day, this time from the right side of the plate. The Gators added four more in the fourth with Young, pictured right, and Pereslucha hitting back-to-back homeruns to left center.

The Gator lead eventually grew to 18-0 before Wentworth rallied to bring the score to 18-9. The Leopards threatened to pull closer before C.J. Knudsen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) entered out of the pen and slammed the door shut in the fifth.

Each side added multiple runs over the final two innings as the game ended at 21-17. Overall, the game lasted just under four hours with 40 players seeing action in the contest.

At the plate, Young drove in a career-high six runs while 14 other Gators recorded at least one hit and eight others drove in at least one.

Pete Obourn (Farmington, N.Y./Victor) picked up the win, tossing four innings with four strikeouts.

The Gators have little time to rest as they will battle Washington & Jefferson in doubleheader action tomorrow. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.

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