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Printer-Friendly ModeCards go 3-1 over weekend
April 7, 2008 —
Pitchers Andrew Doyle and Scott Roy usually don't need much run support, but they both got what they needed in this weekend's four game series with Mercyhurst.
Saturday, the Cardinals got good outings from senior Roy and sophomore Doyle, with Doyle pitching a complete game shut out in game two of the double header, en route to 10-5 and 3-0 victories over the Lakers.
Roy and Doyle continued their strong seasons, with Roy going six innings, striking out six and allowing two earned runs in game one, and Doyle scattered three hits over seven innings, striking out eight in game two.
"I think Roy is the best pitcher in the league," Coach Walt Head said about his pitcher. "He was pitcher of the year in the league last year."
Roy and Doyle remain first in the GLIAC in wins, with five each. Doyle's eight strikeouts upped his GLIAC leading total to 53.
The Cardinals 10 runs in game one on Saturday was their third highest total of the season. Eight of those runs were brought in by senior outfielder Reed Welker, who drove in five and hit two home runs, giving him a GLIAC leading six, and senior catcher Max Bell, who drove in three runs and hit a home run of his own, adding to the Cardinals offensive outbreak.
Game two on Saturday saw the Cardinals score all three of their runs in the first inning, and Doyle's solid outing kept the Lakers at bay for the rest of the afternoon.
"When Doyle is right, he might be our best pitcher," Head said.
However, the Sunday double header saw the Cardinals bats cool down, as the Lakers took an early lead in game one, scoring four unanswered runs through six, and finished the Cardinals off 5-4.
The Cardinals loaded the bases twice, but only were able to bring in one run, when Mercyhurst walked in a run in the fifth.
Game two of Sunday's double header went to the final inning. The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, and Welker laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in the winning run. Welker finished the weekend series with seven RBIs.
"He had a great Florida, and six home runs right now," Head said of Welker's year so far. "He's having the kind of senior season you hope kids have."
Head attributed Sunday's low run production to a wind blowing inward from the outfield.
"All those fly balls were nothing but outs today," Head said. "We won the last game on a sac bunt from our number four hitter. That wind really evens the teams out."
The weekend series with Mercyhurst brings the Cardinals record to 16-7, 5-3 GLIAC, keeping them in the middle of the pack in the GLIAC.
This week, the Cardinals travel to Ypsilanti to play Eastern on Tuesday, come home to play Northwood on Wednesday, thn travel to Ohio to play a weekend series against Ashland.
Upcoming schedule
April 8 at EMU 3:00 p.m.
April 9 Northwood 2:00 p.m.
April 12 at Ashland 1:00 p.m.
April 13 at Ashland 2:00 p.m.
April 16 at Wayne 2:00 p.m.
April 19 Findlay 1:00 p.m.
April 20 Findlay 12:00 p.m.
