Waiting an extra 24 hours to play their first game of the season
and for Curtis Pride to make his coaching debut with Gallaudet
proved worthwhile as Gallaudet defeated Penn State-Berks today,
10-8 at Hoy Field.
After waiting an extra 24 hours due to a rain-out on Wednesday,
a balanced hitting attack showed Bison fans what is in store for
them this season, as four separate players had multi hit
games. Zane
Noschese and John Moore, Jr. had
3 hits a piece. Ryan Hastings and Chester
Kuschmider had two hits a piece. Hastings, C. Kuschmider, and
Moore also scored 7 of the ten Bison runs, with Hastings scoring 3.
The game was close for the first 4 innings, with Gallaudet
scoring first in the bottom of the first on a triple by Moore, Jr.
that drove in Noschese. After Penn State scored three runs in the
top of the second, Gallaudet got two more in their half of the
second, after Hastings scored on a double by C. Kuschmider, and Kyle Kuschmider
scored on a hit by Noschese.
Down 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth, Gallaudet exploded for four
runs and took a lead they woould keep the remainder of the game.
Taking advantage of a pitching change by Penn State-Berks, Jeremy Shepps, Moore,
Jr., Hastings, and K. Kuschmider scored, and Gallaudet led
9-6. Penn State-Berks could get no closer than 10-8.
Gallaudet used two pitchers today: Jeremy Shepps pitched the
first five innings and gave up 6 runs on 7 hits, striking out 4 and
walking two. Ryan Hastings pitched the final four innings,
giving up 2 hits and 2 runs, walking 3 and striking out 2.
After the game, Gallaudet Head Coach Curtis Pride was
relieved to get his first coaching game under his belt. Coach
Pride said, "I'm proud of my players. They played hard. They
played the game the right way." Coach Pride also praised his team's
pitching and hitting. "Shepps and Hastings pitched excellent
today. I was very pleased with their performance. Zane
Noschese, John Moore, Jr., and Ryan Hastings swung the bat well."
Coach Pride also saw areas the Bison need to work on. "We
need to focus when we are on the field. We made a couple
mental mistakes that cost us two or three runs today. We can't do
that."
Gallaudet is now 1-0. They next play a double header
starting at 12 noon Saturday vs. Ohio State University Mansfield.
The game will be at Hoy Field and admission is free.
