Emmitsburg, Md. (April 7, 2008)--Senior first
baseman Josh Vittek's three-run home run in the bottom of the
seventh lifted Mount St. Mary's to a 12-7 win over Coppin State at
Straw Family Stadium on campus. The home run was Vittek's 28th
career long ball at the Mount, matching Will Vanjonack (1997-99)
for the all-time home run lead in the school record books.
Vittek's offense lifted the Mount (4-18) to the victory as he went
4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, a home run and six RBI in
the game. Not to be outdone, freshman Kyle Kane was 5-for-5 at the
plate and freshman leadoff hitter Shane Eyler was 4-for-4 with four
runs scored in the game.
With runners on first and second with one out in the first, Vittek
blasted a double off the left field fence to score Shane Eyler with
the first run of the game. Ryan Murray followed with a sacrifice
fly to give the Mount a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Coppin State (2-32) responded with a four-run fifth inning to grab
a 4-2 lead. Sean Yampierre's bases-clearing single gave the Eagles
a 3-2 lead and Angel Recci added a run-scoring base hit to cap the
inning. Vittek's RBI double deep to left center in the bottom of
the inning cut the Coppin State lead to 4-3.
In the seventh, Eyler singe, moved to second on a Zach Helman bunt,
and Drew Counselman walked to place runners on first and second
with one out. Vittek then belted a three-run homer to give the
Mount the lead, 6-4, with his team-leading fourth homer of the
season. Murray followed with a solo shot to left field to give the
Mount a 7-4 advantage with his third home run of the year.
The Mount sealed the win with a five-run eighth inning. Counselman
walked with the bases loaded before Vittek added a run-producing
single for a 9-4 advantage. Joe Kavanagh was hit by a pitch with
the bases loaded, Kane added an RBI single and Steve Benvenuto
drove home the Mount's final run with an RBI groundout.
Yampierre added a two-run single in the ninth and Harry Williams
closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly for the final of
12-7.
Eiden went 2-for-5 for the Mount while Counselman scored three
times in the contest. Freshman Marshall Thomason earned the win,
allowing one earned run while striking out three in four innings of
relief. Starter Brett Moore allowed four runs, all unearned, in
the game. Yampierre was 2-for-3 with five RBI to pace the Eaglea
while Oscar Santalo and Recci added two hits each.
The Mount returns to action on Wednesday, April 9, with a 7:00 p.m.
game at Maryland.
