Hamden, Conn. (May 15, 2008)--Mount St. Mary's
swept Quinnipiac in a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Thursday
afternoon to clinch a spot in the Northeast Conference Tournament.
The Mount took the opening game, 6-4, before earning a 1-0 victory
in eight innings in the nightcap to improve to 16-30 overall and
12-10 in the NEC.
In the second game, Shane Eyler's
sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning to score Tommy Flynn,
who opened the inning by reaching base on an error. After a Drew
Counselman sacrifice bunt moved Flynn to second, Josh Vittek was
walked intentionally before Ryan Murray also walked to load the
bases, setting up Eyler's sacrifice fly.
Brett Moore earned the win, striking out
five while holding Quinnipiac off the scoreboard in 7.2 innings of
work. Sophomore right hander Mike Matta retired Pete Kummerfeldt
on a fly out to left field with runners on first and second in the
bottom of the eighth inning earn the save.
Matt Staso had a pair of hits in the
second game to pace the Mount offense. Tyler Brett struck out nine
while allowing an unearned run in the complete-game loss for
Quinnipiac.
In the
opening game, Vittek went 3-for-5 with two runs drive in to lead
Mount St. Mary's past Quinnipiac, 6-4, The Mount
jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first
inning. Vittek doubled to drive home Matt Eiden with the game's
first run before Murray's single plated Vittek.
The Bobcats (15-35, 8-18 NEC) answered with three runs in the
bottom of the frame to take the lead. Ben Farina singled and John
Delaney walked before Kummerfeldt belted a three-run homer to give
Quinnipiac the advantage.
Staso doubled, moved to third on Zach Helman's base hit and scored
on an Alex Andrews sacrifice fly to even the score in the top of
the second. Counselman opened the third inning with his
league-leading 19th double of the year and scored the go-ahead run
when Vittek singled him home.
The Mount added a pair of runs in the seventh when Eiden singled
and then scored on a Counselman triple. Counselman then scampered
home on a passed ball to make the score 6-3. The Bobcats scored a
single run in the eighth on a double play, but the Mount held on
for the victory.
Vittek paced the Mount with three hits and two runs driven in while
Counselman added a pair of hits in the victory. Kent Worthington
allowed three runs while allowing two hits in five innings of work
to earn the victory. Max Brittenham closed out the game by
allowing one run in four innings to earn the save.
The teams complete the four-game series
with a noon doubleheader tomorrow.
