The Bearcats split a pair of low scoring affairs in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Grove City, dropping a 5-2 decision in the opener before riding a stellar pitching effort by Tom Bash and Matt Evans to capture a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
 
GAME 1 - Grove City 5, Saint Vincent 2
Grove City opened the scoring in the opener with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first, before adding another tally two frames later to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning.
 
The Bearcats would cut into the deficit in the visiting half of the third. Evans led off the inning with an infield single, before Jayke Saiani followed with a single to right field, putting runners at first and second. A sacrifice bunt from TJ Dailey moved Evans and Saiani up 90 feet, before a passed ball compounded by a Grove City error would plate both baserunners and make it a one-run game.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Wolverines' Bobby Abbott led off with an infield single and then moved to third after Lucca Baccari reached on an error. SVC hurler Jimmy Malone would then induce a 6-4-3 double play, but Abbott would cross the plate with the unearned run to make it a 4-2 game.
 
In the top of the fifth, Evans racked a two-out double to the left field corner, but was stranded in scoring position. Grove City would then answer with their fifth and final run of the game, taking advantage of a balk and another SVC error to go up 5-2.
 
The Bearcats were unable to counter, managing just one base runner over the final two frames, and were dealt the loss.
 
Saint Vincent mustered just four hits in the opener, with two by Evans and one apiece by Saiani and Justin Wright. Malone was saddled with the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Zach Barberich and Tyler Chrise each threw scoreless innings in relief, with Chrise striking out two.
 
Grove City pitcher Tate Ostrowski earned the complete game victory, scattering the four hits and allowing two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts and three walks. Anthony Tambellini led Grove City's offensive effort, as he tallied three of the Wolverines' seven hits and scored three of their five runs. Teammate C.J. Saylor went 2-for-2 at the dish with a walk.
 
GAME 2 - Saint Vincent 3, Grove City 2
In the nightcap, SVC got off to a strong start, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jordan Sabol walked and Zach Barberich singled to open the frame, before Dailey singled to left center field to plate Sabol with the game's first run.

The Bearcats added onto their lead in the top of the second. Jeremy Kruezweiser led off the inning with a single to center field and promptly stole second base. Two batters later, Johnny Daggs roped a single to left center field to bring home Kruezweiser and double SVC's lead.
 
The Wolverines tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out, two-run single by Bubba Hamilton. The Bearcats looked primed to regain the lead in the visiting half of the fourth following a leadoff double by Saiani, but he was stranded in scoring position and the game remained knotted up at 2-2.
 
Bash scattered a pair of Grove City singles over the fourth and fifth innings before the Wolverines threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Baccari and Tanner Orner hit back-to-back singles, before Colton Lineman drew a walk to load the bases. SVC head coach Mick Janosko would then summon Evans from the bullpen, who would induce an inning-ending groundout to escape the jam and preserve the tie.
 
As he did to open the game, Sabol began another Bearcat rally in the top of the eighth, singling to left field. He moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Evans and would promptly and alertly take third base on a failed pickoff attempt. A groundball from Barberich was then misplayed, allowing Sabol to trot home 90 feet with the go-ahead run.
 
Grove City went down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings, as Evans retired all 10 batters he faced, with three strikeouts, to earn his second win of the season.
 
Bash also put together another strong start for SVC on the hill, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. In his three starts, Bash has now allowed just 17 hits and six earned runs over 17 innings.
 
Offensively, six different players accounted for the Bearcats six hits, with Sabol reaching base twice.
 
Grove City managed seven hits in the game, with Orner and Tambellini each going 2-for-4. Pry was saddled with the hard-luck loss, working 7.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.
 
With the split, the Bearcats' record moves to 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the PAC, while Grove City is 5-5 overall and 4-4 in PAC play.
 
The two teams will conclude the four-game series on Monday, March 29, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Bearcat Ballfield.