Marietta
Cats rally back to earn split on road
Marietta , Ohio--- Potomac State rallied back from a game one loss and a 7-run 1st inning deficit to earn a split at Marietta College on Thursday.
Potomac State dropped the opener 9-4 before rallying back for a 15-9 victory in the nightcap.
The Catamounts were facing being swept in the doubleheader after Marietta put across seven runs in the bottom of the first inning on starting pitcher Dale Kestner. PSC began to chip away in the second inning when after a Brett Sellers single, Justin Dailey lined a double to right center to score Sellers. Brent Lockhart then followed with a bloop RBI single to score the speedy Dailey. PSC went on to load the bases but were unable to push across any more runs.
PSC took the lead in the fourth, and once again Dailey was the catalyst. Leading off the inning Dailey blasted a solo homerun to deep left field; it was Daileyýs second homerun of the spring. The Catamount hitters followed Dailyýs lead as the next nine hitters reached base safely: Lockhart grounded a base hit to right, Bill Wooten flared a hit to left and both were brought home by J.T. Osburnýs double of the fence in left. Lou Proietti drove in Osburn on the next pitch with a single to right and moved up to second on the throw. Tino Sloboda laced a single to left to score Proietti, and Ryan Rowe followed with an RBI double to left. Sellers hit into a fielders choice and was able to move into scoring position as Rowe stayed in a rundown to allow Sellers to move up. Sellers then scored on a ringing single by D.J. Payne.
Kestner (2-0) settled down after a shaky first to earn the victory, striking out five. Pat Adkins came on the work 3 2/3 innings of stellar relief to earn the save. Adkins struck out seven and allowed Marietta only an unearned run giving the Catamount hitters a chance to build their lead.
PSC went right back to work in the fifth inning. After a one out walk by Wooten, Osburn lifted a deep fly ball to right field that landed at the base of the fence scoring Wooten and a hustling Osburn beat a close play at third base. With the infield playing in, Proietti hit a hard ground ball that allowed Osburn to motor home safely. With two outs and no one on, Sloboda continued the inning with a base hit to left, stole second and scored on Rowe's third consecutive hit.
Insurance runs were in order for the Cats in the seventh inning. Osburn led off with a 10 pitch walk. Nate Wormley came on to run for Osburn. Proietti then layed down a perfect bunt single as no play was made on the fleet-footed infielder. Sloboda then put down a sacrifice bunt to move the two runners into scoring position. Marietta opted to intentionally walk the hot-hitting Rowe setting up the double play. Freshman Brett Sellers would have none of this as he blasted a triple to deep right field scoring all Wormley, Proietti and Rowe.
Lockhart finished with four hits in the game. Dailey finished with a single, double, home run and 2RBI. Osburn had a double, triple and three walks, and 3RBI. Rowe added three hits, while Proietti, Sellers and Sloboda all added two hits.
"The guys did a good job of battling back and not giving up," said PSC head coach Doug Little. "We just kept on hacking away and battle back and got the win. This was big for us, because they ( Marietta ) are a good team and hard to beat at home."
Potomac State dropped game one after allowing three first inning unearned runs. Catamount hitters left 7 runners stranded on base and hit into three double plays. J.T. Osburn Hit his third homerun of the season when he blasted a two-run shot in the first inning. Brett McClain (2-2) got collared with the loss, allowing six runs, three of which were earned.
Potomac State (9-6) will next be in action on Saturday at Golden Park for a 1:00 pm twin bill against CCAC-South.
GAME ONE
Potomac State 201 100 0 - 4 8 1
Marietta 303 102 x- 9 12 3
GAME TWO
Potomac State 020 730 3 - 15 20 3
Marietta 700 110 0 - 9 5 1
