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For Immediate ReleaseBaseball -- March 13, 2012
Baseball Drops Opening Twinbill at Maryville
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Eureka College baseball team welcomed the 2012 season on Tuesday afternoon at Maryville (Tenn.), dropping a 4-3 decision in the opener and a 6-0 shutout in the nightcap to the host Scots at Scotland Yard in Maryville, Tenn.
The Red Devils yielded three runs in the bottom of the first inning in game one before bouncing back to force a 3-3 deadlock in the top of the third inning. A single, walk and hit batsman loaded the bases for the visitors with one out before Eureka got on the board on an RBI groundout from senior third baseman Mike Daxenbichler (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone H.S.). Junior first baseman Kevin Dooley (Normal, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) followed with a two-run double down the left field line for the 3-3 tie.
Maryville regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Blake Gentry’s two-out RBI double. The tally proved to be the game-winner for the Scots. Eureka put the tying run on the basepaths in two of the final three innings, but was unable to push the equalizer across.
Newcomer Josh Hofer (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) put together a 2-for-3 effort and scored a run in his Eureka debut behind the plate. Senior starting pitcher Blake McConkey (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley H.S.) allowed only two earned runs through 4.0 innings. Sophomore Stephen Davis (Mackinaw, Ill./Dee-Mack H.S.) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.
The Scots put the pressure on early in game two, plating four runs through the first two innings. Gentry’s RBI double scored leadoff batter Cory Kopec to break the scoreless tie and provide all the offense the Scots would need in the bottom of the first inning.
The EC offense sputtered throughout the contest, collecting only three hits and failing to put a runner in scoring position. Maryville tacked on two more insurance runs in the fourth inning en route to the doubleheader sweep.
McConkey, Michael Hammerstrand (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington H.S.) and Mitch Johnson (Southern Pines, N.C./Pinecrest H.S./Greensboro) compiled hits for the Red Devils in the nightcap. Junior hurler John Berns (Herscher, Ill./Herscher H.S.) entered the game facing the 6-0 deficit and fired 2.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The Red Devils will continue east on their season-opening road trip on Wednesday. Eureka will visit Guilford for a 1 p.m. CT start before taking on Greensboro at 6 p.m. CT. Both games will be played in Greensboro, N.C.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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