BOX SCORE - GAME 1

BOX SCORE - GAME 2

PHOTO GALLERY

Thanks to a pair of dazzling pitching performances, the Bearcat baseball team swept visiting Bethany 4-0 and 4-1 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Bearcat Ballfield.

In the opener, Jeff Bugajski threw the first complete-game shutout of his career, before Max Henry earned the team's second complete game win of the day, striking out a Saint Vincent-record 13 batters.

Saint Vincent got off to a strong start in the opener, taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  With two outs, the team received consecutive singles from Joe Aul, Zack Galasso, and Mike Hustava, with Hustava's hit plating Aul to put the Bearcats on the board.

The hosts added to their lead in the bottom of the third.  With one out, Joe Aul reached via fielder's choice, and was followed by Galasso's second single of the game.  Hustava then cleared the bases by blasting a two-strike pitch over the fence in left center field to push the Bearcat lead to 4-0.

The early run support was more than enough for Bugajski.  After allowing a two-out single in the second, Bugajski bore down and retired 10 consecutive hitters to keep the shutout intact after five innings.  He allowed a pair of singles in the sixth with two outs, but pitched out of trouble by striking out the last batter of the frame.  Bugajski then completed the day by retiring the side in the seventh to seal the Bearcat win.

The righty improved to 3-5 on the year with the complete game, scattering just four singles without walking a batter, and striking out a career-high seven.

Offensively, Saint Vincent was led by Hustava's 2-for-3, four-RBI performance, while Galasso and Brad Burkardt each went 2-for-3.

Zac Grayson started and took the loss for Bethany, going five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with one strikeout. 

The Bearcats again got off to a good start in the nightcap, jumping ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the second.  Galasso and Hustava led off with back-to-back singles, before an errant pick off attempt at first base allowed Galasso to score from second and advance Hustava to second.  Zach Bush would walk, and then Steve Bayko belted a double off the fence in right to score Hustava.  The hosts scored their third run of the inning on an RBI ground out from Joey Fearer that scored Bush.

Meanwhile, Henry was strong from the start.  The lefty recorded nine of his first 12 outs, and 10 of his first 15, via strikeout, allowing only two walks through five innings. 

Saint Vincent added an insurance tally in the bottom of the fifth.  Fearer led off with a single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from AJ Kavinsky.  Burkardt then came through with his fourth hit of the afternoon, a single up the middle that plated Fearer and put SVC in front 4-1.

Bethany finally solved Henry in the sixth, breaking up the no-hitter by leading off the inning with consecutive singles, but the lefty was able to get out of the jam, allowing only one run, on a sacrifice fly from TJ Zarewicz, to send the Bearcats into the seventh with the 4-1 lead.

Henry would cap off the game in fine fashion, striking out the side in the seventh to earn his first collegiate victory.  For the game, he allowed just two hits and two walks, and his 13 strikeouts bests the previous seven-inning school record of 12 set by Frank Furfari in 2007.

Burkardt led the offensive charge with his second 2-for-3 showing of the day, as the shortstop now has 12 hits over Saint Vincent's past six games.

Zak Kozlowski took the loss on the hill for Bethany (9-15), throwing six innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts.

The two wins seal the series sweep for the Bearcats over the Bison, as SVC picked up an 8-5 win in the series opener on Thursday afternoon.  Saint Vincent's record moves to 12-19 on the year, and the team will resume its busy week on Wednesday, hosting a PAC doubleheader with Westminster beginning at 1pm.