2008 Woodie Awards
Bulldogs sweep Govs
Trouble on the road: Govs, Lady Govs get chewed by Bulldogs, Lady Tigers
Jackie Furlong
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Sports
A great deal was expected of the APSU Govs baseball team during their weekend matchup against the Samford Bulldogs at the Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham, Ala., Sat., April 12. The Govs were going into Birmingham after losing to both Vanderbilt and Tennessee. But they had executed a three-game sweep in their last Ohio Valley Conference series against Morehead State Sat., April 5. Any hopes of bouncing back against the Bulldogs were shattered early when the Govs lost the opening doubleheader of the series 3-5 and 1-6.
Both teams were expected to make each pitcher battle for the win. The Govs' offense has the third best batting average in the OVC. They have five players batting over .300. Rafael Hill, hitting .375, leads the team. The Bulldogs have the second best batting average in the OVC. Samford has six players with a batting average of .300 or better, with Michael Marseco, hitting .398, leading the team.
In the first game, the Govs' starting pitcher, Stephen Huff (3-4), allowed five hits and one run, until he was pulled in the top of the seventh. His replacement, David Vicini (0-3), came into the game with two on and one out. Vicini threw one pitch to the Bulldogs' designated hitter, Michael Rutledge, and Rutlegde sent the ball sailing over the left field fence for three RBIs. Vicini was immediately replaced by Jake Brisbin (1-1), who completed the game, but was unable to make the save. The Bulldogs' starting pitcher, Joseph Stephens (5-0), stifled the Govs until the fifth inning when they plated two runs from four hits. Stephens did not allow any more hits until the ninth inning. The Govs tacked on another run from two hits. It was not enough for the win, however, and Stephens' earned the win, maintaining his perfect record.
Vicini's pain continued in the second game of the doubleheader. The Bulldogs plated runs in every inning except the fifth. Vicini threw five strikeouts but allowed six runs (four earned) from nine hits. Trent Hill (4-2) picked up the win allowing only one run from six hits. Matt Kole was the only Gov with multiple hits in the game. He went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Bulldogs completed the sweep with a 7-5 win the next day. The sweep caps a five-game losing streak this week. The Govs' (15-18, 5-7 OVC) losses dropped them to seventh in the OVC. Conversely, the Bulldogs (21-11, 9-2 OVC) are sitting comfortably in first place.
Both teams were expected to make each pitcher battle for the win. The Govs' offense has the third best batting average in the OVC. They have five players batting over .300. Rafael Hill, hitting .375, leads the team. The Bulldogs have the second best batting average in the OVC. Samford has six players with a batting average of .300 or better, with Michael Marseco, hitting .398, leading the team.
In the first game, the Govs' starting pitcher, Stephen Huff (3-4), allowed five hits and one run, until he was pulled in the top of the seventh. His replacement, David Vicini (0-3), came into the game with two on and one out. Vicini threw one pitch to the Bulldogs' designated hitter, Michael Rutledge, and Rutlegde sent the ball sailing over the left field fence for three RBIs. Vicini was immediately replaced by Jake Brisbin (1-1), who completed the game, but was unable to make the save. The Bulldogs' starting pitcher, Joseph Stephens (5-0), stifled the Govs until the fifth inning when they plated two runs from four hits. Stephens did not allow any more hits until the ninth inning. The Govs tacked on another run from two hits. It was not enough for the win, however, and Stephens' earned the win, maintaining his perfect record.
Vicini's pain continued in the second game of the doubleheader. The Bulldogs plated runs in every inning except the fifth. Vicini threw five strikeouts but allowed six runs (four earned) from nine hits. Trent Hill (4-2) picked up the win allowing only one run from six hits. Matt Kole was the only Gov with multiple hits in the game. He went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Bulldogs completed the sweep with a 7-5 win the next day. The sweep caps a five-game losing streak this week. The Govs' (15-18, 5-7 OVC) losses dropped them to seventh in the OVC. Conversely, the Bulldogs (21-11, 9-2 OVC) are sitting comfortably in first place.
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