WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 11) – Second-seeded Grove City College scored four unanswered runs over its final two at-bats to earn a 6-5 comeback victory over No. 3 seed Saint Vincent in the opening round of the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.
The Bearcats (20-17) will now face No. 4 Westminster College at 3 p.m. on Friday in an elimination game, while Grove City (30-9) advances in the winner bracket to face top-seeded Washington & Jefferson College at noon.
Saint Vincent jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, with L.J. Evans racking a one-out triple to the corner in right field and scoring on a groundout by Derek Hald.
The Wolverines promptly answered back in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on three hits. The Bearcats were aided by their defense, with pitcher Aaron Stephan cutting down the lead runner on a squeeze bunt at the plate.
The teams traded zeroes over the third and fourth innings, before the Bearcats manufactured a run to take the lead in the top of the fifth, as Dylan Schmude walked to lead off, took second on a sacrifice bunt from Evans, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Hald's second RBI groundout of the afternoon.
Grove City's leadoff hitter reached on an error to open the bottom of the fifth, before a single put runners at first and third with no outs. The Bearcat defense then came through yet again, as SVC's Connor Bannias made a diving catch on a sharp line drive and tag third base for the unassisted double play. Another walk put runners at first and second, but Evans made a running catch at the right field line to end the inning and the threat.
Jordan Sabol led off the sixth inning with a sharp single to center, before a Devon Bonine sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed, putting runners at first and third. A sharp line drive to right field from Kyle Belmont plated Sabol with the go-ahead run, before Alex Hess singled to left to bring home Bonine and give the Bearcats a 4-2 lead.
The Bearcat defense again shined in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and a runner on first, Sabol raced to the center field fence and made a diving grab with his back to the plate. After a single put runners at first and third, Bannias made a stab on a sharp grounder to third and cut the lead runner down at home for the second out. Evans then followed with another "web gem," racing into the right-center gap and making a fully extended, diving grab to end the inning and preserve the lead.
With one out in the seventh, Billy Perroz drew a walk, before taking third on Sabol's double to the left field corner. Bonine then blooped a single into no-man's land in shallow center field, plating Perroz and pushing the SVC advantage to 5-2. A Belmont sacrifice bunt then put runners at second and third, but they would be left stranded, as a ground-out ended the inning.
Grove City's Mally Kilbane led off the seventh with a solo home run to pull to within two, 5-3, and the longball ignited a rally, as the Wolverines added two more runs on three hits to tie the game at 5-5.
After SVC went down in order in the eighth, the Wolverines used an error, single, and double to plate an unearned run in the bottom half, which proved to be the eventual game-winner.
Saint Vincent managed one runner in the top of the ninth on a one-out Perroz walk, but Grove City reliever Evan Umland would record a groundout and strikeout to seal the victory.
Aaron Stephan started on the mound and pitched a solid 4.0 innings in the no-decision, allowing two runs on six hits and just one walk. Jeremy Kreuzwieser was saddled with the hard-luck loss, allowing one unearned run in 2/3 of an inning. Casey Jones closed it out, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
The Bearcat offense recorded eight hits, with Evans and Sabol each going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sabol reached safely three times with a walk to go with his two hits.
Umland earned the win for the Wolverines, throwing two scoreless innings, with two strikeouts.
For the second straight season, the Bearcats will now face Westminster in a must-win game on day two of the PAC Championship Tournament. The winner will advance to the 7 p.m. game against the loser of Friday's opening game between W&J and Grove City.
