Vikings Travel To George Washington For Three Games
    CSU Will Face The Colonials Friday (March 12), Saturday (March 13) and Sunday (March 14)
    Jason Haditsch

    Jason Haditsch

    March 11, 2010

    Contact: Renee Adam

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    Games 10-12
    Cleveland State (1-8) at George Washington (8-4)
    Dates:
    Fri., March 12 • 2:30 p.m.
    Sat., March 13 • 1:00 p.m.
    Sun., March 14 • 12:00 noon
    Site: Barcroft Park, Washington, D.C.
    Series: George Washington leads, 9-4
    Last Meeting: CSU 5, GW 3, (3/20/05) at Barcroft Park

    AROUND THE HORN: The Cleveland State baseball team will face George Washington in their fourth three-game series of the season, taking on the Colonials Friday (March 12) at 2:30 p.m., Saturday (March 13) at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday (March 14) at 12:00 noon at Barcroft Park in Washington, D.C. The Vikings enter the weekend coming off a 0-3 series against VCU, dropping 6-5, 10-7 and 13-1 decisions, while the Colonials enter the series on an eight game win streak that includes victories over Coppin State, USC Upstate, UMBC and Maryland Eastern Shore. CSU has faced 10 teams from the Atlantic 10 conference in the past 39 years, posting a 58-77-2 overall record.

    2010 SEASON PREVIEW: Following a year in which Cleveland State recorded 21 victories, head coach Kevin Kocks believes that he has the right group of student-athletes to finish what he started three years ago when he first came to Cleveland. One of the deepest parts of the team will be the pitching rotation where Kocks has 12 available arms. Leading the charge on the mound will be juniors Anthony Sambula and Coty Bates and sophomore Nate Blankemeyer. The trio of Jimmy Cowhy, Joey Gradney and Nate Dick are knocking on the door to fill starting roles on the mound during weekend contests, with freshmen Brandon Cooper, Pat Shedlock and Dylan Schwegler coming out of the bullpen as relief pitchers and junior Travis Miller returning as the closer. Sophomore Alex Johnson has centerfield locked down for the Vikings this season, with 2009 all-newcomer honoree Ryan Franks set in leftfield, and Vince Marquard and Miller battling for time in rightfield. CSU enters the 2010 season with multiple options at all infield positions, starting at first base with a combination of Brent Casto, Josh Lowe and Kyle Shaffer all being able to fill the role. The duties up the middle will be split between the duo of junior Tom Carter and sophomore Jason Haditsch, with 2009 all-newcomer honoree Tyler Wynn as the mainstay at third base after spending last season as CSU's first baseman. Shaffer and Bob Suitca will split the duties behind the plate this season.

    Game 7 - VCU 6, CSU 5 (March 5):
    The Vikings rallied to score four runs in the final two innings, sparked by a Kyle Shaffer triple, but they fell just short, dropping a 6-5 decision. For the first time this season CSU was able to outhit their opponent, recording eight hits to VCU's six.

    Game 8 - VCU 10, CSU 7 (March 6):
    Going into the sixth inning CSU was down by five, 8-3, scoring four runs over the sixth and seventh innings to bring the score within one, 8-7, but VCU was able to score two additional runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the 10-7 lead. Alex Johnson continued his streak of stolen bases this season, recording his fifth straight.

    Game 9 - VCU 13, CSU 1 (March 7):
    Kyle Shaffer drove in Cleveland State's lone run of the game, off of a sixth inning single, as VCU was able to score three runs in three different innings to take a commanding 13-1 lead. For the first time this season the Vikings were held to less than five hits during a game, being able to make contact just three times.

    SHAFFER GOES FOR THREE: Kyle Shaffer has been finding the gaps in the outfield this year, hitting three triples just nine games into the season. He is the lone Viking to record a triple this season and is also tied for the league lead in the category with UIC's Steve McGuiggan.

    ...AND FOR TWO: Shaffer also leads the team in doubles, tied with Tyler Wynn with three each. Shaffer and Wynn are both well on their way to setting career highs in the category, with Shaffer's previous best being seven, which he hit last season and Wynn hitting a career high five as a freshman.

    SAMBULA STRONG FROM THE START: Junior Anthony Sambula has found his strike zone early this season, leading the league in batters struck out looking with nine and is third with 18 total batters struck out. His 18 strike outs is a team high and is a little over half way to his career high (32) with 11 weeks left in the season.

    VIKINGS TURN THE DOUBLE: The duo of first baseman Tyler Wynn and second baseman Jason Haditsch lead the league in double plays this season, taking part of 11 and eight respectively. CSU has turned double plays in all but two games this year, and recorded a season high three at UNCG (Feb. 21) and at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 26). The duo of Wynn and Haditsch have worked together on six of the 13 double plays that CSU has recorded this season, the most out of any Viking combination.

    JOHNSON CONTINUES STREAK: Sophomore Alex Johnson recorded his fifth straight stolen base of the season in Saturday's (March 6) 10-7 loss at VCU. He has tallied a stolen base against all three opponents this season, two against UNCG and Tennessee Tech and one against VCU. Johnson leads the team in the category and is second in the league behind Valparaiso's Kyle Gaedele (6).

    SUITCA STRONG AT THE PLATE: After having his freshman season cut short due to a knee injury, redshirt freshman Bob Suitca has come on strong leading the team with two home runs and is second on the team in hits (13), RBI (11) and doubles (2). Suitca is one of twoVikings to be in the league top ten in three out of those four categories, hits, RBI and home runs.

    SCORING MACHINE: Senior Kyle Shaffer is certainly doing his part to drive in runs this season, leading the Vikings and second in the league with 13 RBI over the first three weeks of play. He has recorded at least one RBI in six games this season, including a team high five in the 10-8 loss at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 27). He is just one short of tying his career record for RBI in a season (14).

    A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME: After three seasons at the Pipe Yard Stadium, the Vikings will call All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio home for the first time this season. The state-of-the-art facility, which houses the Lake Erie Crushers, seats 5,000 and has artificial turf which will allow CSU to play more games despite the inclement weather. The Viking home opener is slated for March 24 against Eastern Michigan.

    NEXT UP: The Vikings will take a spring break trip to Tennessee next week, facing Belmont and Tennessee-Martin in five games over a six day span. They will face Belmont on Tuesday (March 16) at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday (March 17) at 1:00 p.m. and Tennessee-Martin in a three game weekend series, Friday (March 19) at 4:00 p.m., Saturday (March 20) at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday (March 21) at 1:00 p.m.