GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore
Sean Murphy (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) hit a bases-clearing double in game one and freshman
Shane Manieri (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle) belted a two-run homer in game two to spark Gettysburg College to a pair of victories (7-5, 10-4) over visiting Washington College in Centennial Conference baseball action at Kirchhoff Field on Saturday.
Gettysburg (13-10, 2-3 CC) trailed 2-0 following the first inning of game one before a double-steal scored junior
Joe Giovinco (Stirling, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) for the team's first run. Freshman
Matthew Muir (South East, Mass./Oliver Ames) knocked a two-out RBI double in the second to tie the game 2-2.
Washington (20-6, 2-3 CC) looked to jump back in front in the third inning, but senior
Jonny Bray (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) came into the game with the bases loaded and induced a double play to first base. Bray would allow only one earned run in his 6.1 innings of work.
After the Shoremen took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, the Bullets picked up five runs in the sixth and seventh frames. Freshman
Andrew Decker (Baltimore, Md./Towson) doubled home Manieri in the sixth inning to tie the game and sophomore
Matt Szczesny (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) put the hosts ahead with a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Gettysburg loaded the bases before Murphy stroked a double to push the advantage to 7-3.
Washington attempted to rally in the ninth, bringing home a pair of unearned runs with two outs. Senior
Sam Dobbins (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) relieved Bray for the final out and picked up an easy grounder back to the mound to put the game to rest and earn the save.
Szczesny went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI, while Giovinco and freshman
Mark Seibert (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) each scored two runs. Bray improved to 1-1 after allowing six hits and three runs (one earned) with five strikeouts.
The Shoremen again took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and fourth innings against starter
Dan Ball (Bernardsville, N.J./Bernards). The Bullets surged in front with three runs in the bottom of the fourth on singles by Decker, sophomore
Eric Raio (West Caldwell, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), and Muir.
Washington threatened in the next frame with Ball hitting the lead-off batter and allowing a single to Ben Ruvo. After allowing a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, the sophomore hurler was relieved despite throwing an effective 4.1 innings with six strikeouts. Sophomore
Erik Wortmann (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) received a big defensive play to open his relief appearance as Manieri made a charging grab on a liner to right field and the Bullets doubled up the runner at third base after leaving early.
Manieri unloaded on a pitch in the fifth inning, pulverizing a fastball over the right-field fence for his fourth home run of the spring to give Gettysburg a 5-2 edge.
All nine batters came to the plate in the seventh inning with the Bullets tacking on five more runs. Raio provided the big blow with a two-run single and helped set the stage for the final run on a double-steal attempt with Decker later in the frame.
Washington managed to get two runs off Wortmann in the eighth, but the sophomore retired the final five batters he faced to earn the victory. He moved to 3-2 on the year after allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and striking out one over 4.2 innings.
Szczesny, Murphy, Manieri, Decker, and Raio all posted a pair of hits for Gettysburg. Manieri and Raio each drove in three runs, while Decker came up with two RBI.
Gettysburg turns right back around Sunday with a road trip to No. 11 Johns Hopkins University. Game time is 2 p.m.