BOX SCORE - GAME ONE

BOX SCORE - GAME TWO

The Bearcats picked up two key Presidents' Athletic Conference victories, defeating Thomas More by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to strong pitching and clutch hitting.

Joey Fearer and Greg Martin combined for the shutout in game one, while Mike Cramer went the distance on the mound and Matt Loftis had the game-winning single in game two.

Fearer got into a jam in the first inning of game one, giving up a pair of hits, but struck out power hitter Cody Makin with two runners in scoring position to end the threat.  From there, he settled down and kept the Saints off the scoreboard.

In the third inning, Collin Laguzza led off with a single to right, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by AJ Kavinsky.  After a groundout by Vince Murphy moved Laguzza to third, a passed ball brought home what would prove to be the winning run.

The Saints added drama to the final inning.  After a strikeout to lead things off, two straight singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases with just one out.  Greg Martin then came on in relief and got a ground ball then led to a force out at the plate for the second out.  With a 3-2 count, Martin threw a pitch that was in the dirt, but the batter went around on a check swing for a game-ending strikeout.

Fearer (4-2) yielded seven hits, walked one and struck out 6 for the win, while Martin picked up his second save of the year.  SVC managed just four hits, but it was enough for the victory.

In game two, Cramer got some support from the bats in the bottom of the second inning, as Martin led off with a double to center.  Tanner Master flew out to right, moving Martin to third, and Jon White singled home the run to make it 1-0.

Cramer kept the shutout going into the fifth inning, but was touched up for a pair of hits, with a run scoring on a sacrifice fly by Casey Metzger, tying the game.

In the top of the 7th, Thomas More got a runner on with one out, but Laguzza gunned out the runner trying to steal, then Cramer shut the door with a strikeout, sending the tie game to the home half of the seventh.

Master led off with a single to left, and White laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving him to second.  Loftis then produced the game-winner, punching a single to right that plated Master. 

Cramer (4-1) gave up just four hits on the day, walked three and struck out 7. 

SVC is now 11-9 in the PAC, while Thomas More drops to 9-8.  The teams will meet again next Wednesday in Kentucky for a 9-inning game.