April 6, 2008

Final Stats

Contact: Greg Murphy

LORAIN, Ohio - It was a classic pitcher's dual on Sunday afternoon at The Pipe Yard. And in the end, Wright State got the better of Cleveland State as the Raiders earned a 3-2 victory over the Vikings in the series final.

The Raiders took two of three to win the series. All three games were decided by one run.

CSU fell to 8-12 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League, while Wright State improved to 11-14 overall and 4-4 in league play.

WSU starter Michael Woytek was impressive as he ran his record to 2-3 this season. He worked eight innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out four. Michael Meintel worked a shaky ninth, allowing two hits, but did earn his third save of the season.

CSU starter Sam Suitca was just as good as Woytek today, going all nine innings for his first complete game of the season. He gave up three runs, with only two being earned, on six hits and fanned three. Suitca fell to 1-4 this season.

"This was a big outing for Sam," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "He threw the ball really well and kept us in the game.

"Overall, I am disappointed with the outcome of the weekend. We had a chance to win all three games. Offensively, I thought we were too passive at the plate and didn't get anything going until late. We had a chance to win it in the ninth, but couldn't come through.

"We have come a long way from where we were last season, but we still have a long way to go."

Both pitchers had command through the first three innings as the teams combined for just one hit, a single by CSU shortstop Tom Carter.

However, WSU got their bats rolling and took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth after the first two batters of the inning were retired. Justin Parker started the rally with a single through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. He came around to score when Jeff Mercer delivered an RBI double to leftfield. Casey McGrew followed with an RBI double that plated Mercer to make it 2-0.

WSU added another run in the sixth on a defensive miscue by the Vikings. After the first two batters were retired by Suitca, Mercer worked the count full and drew a walk. Gerald Ogrince then sent a flyball to rightfield that Adam Heideman started back on. However, the wind held the ball up and forced Heideman to retreat in. He appeared to be under the ball, but it popped out of his glove, allowing Mercer to score from first.

CSU came back with a single tally in the sixth with Brad Buell drawing a leadoff walk and moving to second on a groundout by Alex Kerins. He came in with CSU's first run of the game when Kyle Bischof sent a liner down the rightfield line. Bischof was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

The Vikings cut their deficit to one run (3-2) with another score in the seventh as Bobby Cash hit an RBI single that scored Josh Geric from second. Geric had walked to leadoff the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by John Foco.

CSU was threatening even more in the seventh as Adam Heideman followed Cash with a single to put runners on first and second with one out. However, Tom Carter hit into an inning ending double play.

After being retired in order in the eighth, CSU put together a threat in the ninth, loading the bases after the first two batters were retired. Foco and Cash hit back-to-back singles and Heideman was hit by a pitch to load the bases for pinch hitter Matt Madrid. However, Meintel struck out Madrid to earn the save and end the game.

Bischof finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Cash went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Vikings, who had seven hits.

RJ Gundolff was 2-for-4, while Mercer and McGrew had RBI for the Raiders.

The Vikings will be back in action on Monday (April 7) evening when CSU travels to Eastern Michigan for a 5:00 p.m. nonconference contest. It will be the first of six games during the week for CSU.