WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two months later the
Gallaudet University baseball team got its doubleheader in with
Arcadia University. The two teams were set to begin the 2010 season
on February 13 but the second blizzard to pummel the Washington,
D.C., region during the winter season made sure those games
didn't get played. Gallaudet was tied up with Arcadia 5-5 in
the sixth inning before the Knights scored a controversial run in
the sixth and eight runs in the seventh to win the first game 14-5.
In the second game, Arcadia (8-22) jumped out early and scored
three runs in three different innings against Gallaudet (3-30) as
the Knights won 12-1.
GU starting pitcher Jeremy Shepps
(Mechanicsburg, Pa.) got the first two Arcadia batters in the top
of the sixth inning of the first game to fly out. Arcadia
lead-off hitter Matt Pempkowski (5-for-8, four runs, three RBIs on
the day) singled to center. Shepps tried to keep Pempkowski close
but a failed pickoff attempt went wrong when Shepps threw the ball
away to allow the runner to move to second base. Pempkowski then
stole his base of the day to put the go-ahead run 90 feet away.
Shepps lost the batter at the plate as he walked Nick Petroski to
give the Knights runners on the corners. Third baseman Dan Morris
stepped to the plate for Arcadia. During the at-bat Petroski
committed in his attempt to steal second base so Shepps threw to
shortstop Tommy Barksdale (Brookeville, Md.) who
applied the tag for the final out of the inning. As the Bison were
about to clear the field the home plate umpire called a balk on
Shepps to force home Pempkowski from third base and place Petroski
on second base with Morris still at the dish with two outs.
Gallaudet coach Curtis Pride came out to discuss
the play with the home plate umpire and filed a protest on the
call. The game continued and Arcadia exploded for eight runs in the
seventh inning to put the game away. If the protest ruling comes
back this week in Gallaudet's favor then the first game will
have to re-start from the spot in the game where the protest was
filed, when it was still 5-5 with two outs and runners on the
corner. If the ruling stands then the game will not be replayed.
Shepps pitched his fifth complete game as he allowed 14 runs (10
earned) on 13 hits, two walks, two wild pitches and struck out four
Knights. Relief pitcher Adam Planamento (1-0) earned the win as he
allowed one run over four innings of action as he walked one and
struck out two Bison.
Gallaudet scored three runs in the second inning of the first
game to tie the game at 3-3. Arcadia responded with two runs in the
top of the fourth before Gallaudet got one run back in the bottom
half. Shepps drove in the fifth run in the bottom of the fifth with
a sacrifice fly to score junior Zane Noschese
(Pittsburgh, Pa.).
In the second game, Arcadia scored a run in every inning but the
fourth and sixth innings. The Knights scored three runs in the
second, third and fifth innings. Gallaudet scored its lone run in
the bottom of the first inning. Noschese led off with a walk and
stole second base. Sophomore Ryan Hastings (Cherry
Valley, Mass.) drew a walk and moments later the pair pulled off a
double steal. Noschese then scored on a single by Shepps to tie the
game.
The two teams combined to steal 23 bases in the two games
combined. Pempkowski led the way with five stolen bases followed by
four by Kyle Jackson.
Hastings started on the mound for the Bison and pitched five
innings where he allowed 10 runs (seven earned) off 10 hits, three
walks and hit one batter. Hastings did strikeout three Knights.
GU will host Christendom College on Wednesday, April 21, for a
nine-inning game at Hoy Field with the first pitch slated for 3:30
p.m.
