BOX SCORE

A single by Jack Shaffer in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Bearcats to a 12-11 victory over Grove City College in a game where SVC was down by ten runs.

SVC got off to a rough start, yielding three runs in the top of the first -- all unearned. 

In the bottom of the first, AJ Kavinsky led off with a walk then scored on a triple by Brad Burkardt, making the score 3-1, but it would be the last Bearcat run for several innings.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, added four runs in the third and four more in the fifth, making the score 11-1 in a must-win game for the Bearcats.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kavinsky led off with a single to right, then moved to second when Joey Fearer was hit by a pitch.  Burkardt then singled to load the bases.  Zack Galasso then drove home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that made it 11-2, and Erik Fichter made it an 8-run game with a single that plated Fearer.  With two runners on, Grant Krally then sent a pitch over the fence in left field to make the score 11-6.

Andrew Kozusko then doubled off the fence in right field, and scored on a single by Mike Hustava, making it 11-7.  With two out, Kavinsky singled home Hustava to make the score 11-8, then moved to second on a Fearer single.  Burkardt then singled home Kavinsky with the eighth run of the inning, making the score 11-9.

Alex Kozusko, who had come on to pitch in the 6th inning, shut down Grove City on the mound, and the Bearcat bats continued the comeback.

After a pair of walks, Nick Beamenderfer singled home a run in the bottom of the 7th, making the score 11-10.

In the top of the 9th, GCC's leadoff hitter singled, but Jared Haller came out of the bullpen and shut down the Wolverines, keeping it a one-run game. 

SVC stepped up in the bottom of the 9th down to its final three outs, but Andrew Kozusko doubled deep to right field to lead off, giving the Bearcats hope.  After Nick LoNigro came on to pinch run, Hustava singled, moving LoNigro to third.  Beamenderfer then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring LoNigro to tie the game at 11.

However, the Bearcats were unable to get the winning run across, sending the game into extra innings.

After Haller tossed a 1-2-3 top half of the inning, Fichter was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the 10th.  Krally was then hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, putting runners at first and second. 

Vince Murphy then laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with two outs.

Jack Shaffer, who came into the game to play first base after Hustava was removed for a pinch runner, then made his first plate appearance of the day count, lacing the game-winning single into right field, scoring Fichter.

For Shaffer, it was his second walk-off game-winner of the season.

Haller (8-3) earned the win in relief, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out two.  Alex Kozusko worked three scoreless innings as well, striking out three.  Burkardt and Kavinsky each had three hits for the Bearcats (22-16).

With the victory, the Bearcats return to fourth place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference -- the final playoff position -- with an 11-11 conference record.  SVC will play at Grove City in two key games on Saturday afternoon at 1PM.

The Bearcats control their own destiny...a pair of wins will guarantee a post-season appearance.