Baseball Splits with Misericordia
Box Score/ResultsPort Charlotte, FL- The Clark University nine split a double-header with Misericordia College (PA), winning game one 1-0, and dropping the nightcap 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.
In the opener, Clark's Matt Tillo (Osterville, MA) and Misericordia's Darren Morgan (Levittown, PA), squared off in a true pitchers duel. Tillo took the win for the Clark Cougars, tossing a complete game shutout, yielding only three hits and three walks. Morgan was the tough-luck loser throwing six complete innings allowing one earned run and five hits, while striking out four. The win was Tillo's first in his first chance this season.
Gunnar Hagstrom (Yarmouth, ME) and Matt Adams (Jackson Heights, NY) led off the game with back-to-back base hits and promptly advanced an extra base on a well-executed double steal. Ronald Bathrick (New Haven, CT) followed by driving in the lone run of the game on a fielders choice to the shortstop. Adams produced the only multiple hit game, notching a single and a double.
Clark got off to a quick start against Misericordia's Steve Peet (Lewes, DE), in game two, as Joe Silva (Westbury, NY) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Adams who had reached on a triple. Peet would settle down and not allow another run until the sixth inning.
Misericordia reached Clark's starting pitcher, Dan Simokonis (Worcester, MA) for three runs in the bottom of the third and another three in the fifth. Misericordia's Cody Hack (Bloomsburg, PA) led off the third with a hit by pitch and later scored on a bases loaded walk. Misericordia added two more runs in the frame on fielder's choice plays.
Clark rallied in the fifth after Hagstrom doubled and Eric Dufour (Exeter, NH) walked. Hagstrom then scored on a single by freshman Scott Hollingsworth (Tilton, NH), and Dufour scored on a Cole Osburn (Mendon, MA) fielder's choice.
Misericordia scored three runs in the fifth to retake the lead, highlighted by a Brandon Calafut (Carbondale, PA), double over the center fielder's head.
Hagstrom added his second hit of the game in the sixth, driving in Silva to put the Cougars within two. A Matt Tillo home-run in the seventh pulled Clark to within one but Misericordia's Jamie Philippi (Rome, PA), was able to finish out the seventh and earn the save.
The Cougars (1-2) will take on St. Joe's College (ME), tomorrow in a single game at 10am.
By Joe Pasciucco