5/5: Season ends in playoffs

Ohio Dominican University, regular season champions of the American Mideast Conference South Division, ended the Saint Vincent Bearcats' season in the first round of the conference playoffs.

The Panthers defeated the Bearcats 9-3 and 7-3 Thursday afternoon to sweep the best-of-three series.

Kip Watkins was the losing pitcher in game one, but his pitching was not the major issue.  "Kip pitched a very good baseball game," said Coach Mick Janosko.  "He only gave up three earned runs -- we just did not play good defense."

The Bearcats committed six errors in the game, leading to the runs that gave ODU the margin of victory.

Russ Daniels accounted for two of the Bearcat runs with a pair of solo homers.

In game two, Ohio Dominican managed three runs off starter Justin Perryman, who finishes the season with a 5-2 record.  "Justin pitched good baseball today, and he pitched well for us all year," said Janosko. 

T.J. Conroy led the offense by going 3-for-4 and scoring a run.  Mike Schock added a pair of hits and walked once, while Josh Morrow was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

The Bearcats finish the season with an overall record of 22-24.  While they may have finished under .500, Coach Janosko was pleased with the way the team played over the past month.  "We were 5-13 at one point.  We played good, gutsy baseball down the stretch.  The team came together, and kept the season going, making the playoffs.  I'm proud of what they accomplished."

4/28: Fuhrer leads SVC to victory

Anthony Fuhrer tossed a four-hitter, leading the Bearcats to a 7-2 victory over American Mideast Conference foe Geneva College.

Fuhrer gave up just one earned run and went the distance for the victory.  He received solid support from the Bearcat bats, headed by Kip Watkins, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI. 

Billy Mulheren reached base five times on the day, going 3-for-3 with three singles and a pair of walks.  He scored twice and stole a base.

Josh Morrow was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Brad Hill went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

4/27: Bearcats, Malone split

The Bearcats split another key American Mideast Conference doubleheader, losing the opener to Malone College 9-1 and then defeating the Pioneers 3-0 in the nightcap.

In game one, the Bearcats kept it close for the duration of the game, but were unable to awaken the bats.  Leading 3-0 heading into the seventh, the Pioneers scored six runs off of starting pitcher Christian Necheff (3-4) who went the distance for the Bearcats.

Saint Vincent scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh, when third baseman T.J. Conroy led off with a double to left and then scored on a Dan Gratchic single.  Conroy finished the day 3-3, and he tied the school's single-season record for doubles, as he now has 13, the same amount that Joe Pichler recorded last season.

Malone starter Kory Heppard went six innings, giving up just six Bearcat hits and striking out seven batters.

The nightcap featured a classic pitcher's duel, pitting Bearcat lefty Justin Perryman against Pioneer righty Anthony Barson.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth, when Bearcat centerfielder Mike Schock led off with a single.  Second baseman Billy Mulheren followed suit, lining a pitch into right field.  Shortstop Kip Watkins then doubled into the right field gap, scoring Schock.  First baseman Josh Morrow then singled Mulheren home.

Conroy then hit a ground ball to Malone third baseman Andy Wise, who recorded the force out at second base.  Watkins hustled home, beating second baseman Jarrod Stahl's throw to finish off the scoring.

Perryman pitched a gem, going the distance and allowing just five hits and striking out five without walking a batter. He improves his record on the season to 5-1, and his ERA now drops to 2.73. 

4/26: Bearcats, Geneva split

The Saint Vincent Bearcats split an American Mideast Conference doubleheader with Geneva College.  SVC won the opener 13-7 but dropped the nitecap by a 6-4 margin.

Kip Watkins went the distance for his school-record eighth complete game of the year, improving to 6-5 with the first game victory.  The Bearcats supported him with 11 hits, scoring 3 runs in each of the first three innings.  Watkins yielded all seven Geneva runs, but only three were earned.

TJ Conroy drove in five runs in the game, going 2-for-2 plus a bases-loaded walk and a hit batsman.  Mike Schock, Billy Mulheren, Dan Gratchic and Mike Killian joined Conroy with two hits each.

In game two, Geneva's Matt Nowaczynksi delivered a crushing blow with a second-inning grand slam that gave the Golden Tornadoes an early lead on Bearcat starter Jimmy Strayhorne.  The Bearcats fought back to close a 6-2 deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Geneva's Matt Colella worked out of a jam to earn the complete game victory.

For the Bearcats, Schock, Josh Morrow and Abe Weimer each contributed a pair of hits.

4/22: SVC wins before rain ends DH

The Bearcats had a successful trip to Beaver Falls, until rain ended the day early.

SVC won a key American Mideast Conference matchup over Geneva by a score of 7-0 behind a strong pitching performance by Kip Watkins.

Watkins (5-5), yielded just four hits, walked one and struck out one, going the distance.

TJ Conroy was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.  He drove in 2 runs and scored twice.  Josh Morrow was 3-for-4 with three singles, driving in three runs.  Joe McBroom was 2-4 with an RBI and scored once, while Brad Hill was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.  Billy Mulheren was 1-3 and scored twice.

Game one was played despite a drizzle that eventually turned into a steady rain by the late innings.  Game two was postponed.

4/19: Bearcats pound Mount Al

The Bearcats went on the road on Tuesday, pounding Mount Aloysius 23-1.

Joe McBroom, Cy Haponski, and T.J. Conroy each hit longballs for SVC, while Haponski, Conroy, and Brad Hill each had three hits for the victors.  Conroy hit a double and a triple in addition to the four-bagger, missing hitting for the cycle by just a single.  He had five RBIs on the day.  Haponski knocked in two and scored five runs, and Hill knocked two doubles and had four RBIs.  McBroom also singled, finishing 2-2 with two RBIs, and Jimmy Strayhorne went 2-3 with two ribbies and one run scored.

Bearcat starter Christian Necheff was not to be overshadowed by his teammates' hitting, as he took a no-hitter into the fifth.  He ended up throwing six innings, giving up one run and one hit.  Brad Sanders threw two innings of shut out baseball, and Ben Stoltzfus threw a scoreless ninth.

4/18: Bearcats equal team HR record in win

The Bearcats pounded out 19 hits and hit four home runs, routing Westminster College 20-9 in a non-conference match up.

There were numerous offensive stars for the Bearcats, but none shone more brightly than Russ Daniels and Kip Watkins.

Daniels a junior, went 4-6 on the afternoon, hitting two home runs, scoring five, and driving in six.  Watkins, had four hits in five at bats, including the first home run of his collegiate career as well as a double.  He drove in three runs.

Junior T.J. Conroy also had a four-bagger to go with a double, and senior Joe McBroom went 3-5 with two singles, a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Starter Justin Perryman went five innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) and striking out two Titans for the victory.  Juniors Anthony Fuhrer and Craig Conforti pitched well in relief.  Fuhrer went three innings, giving up just one unearned run, while Conforti threw the ninth, giving up one unearned run and striking out two.

With the four home runs, SVC ties its single game mark for dingers, previously reached in the Bearcats' first-round playoff game against Shawnee State on May 6th last year.

4/17: SVC wins one, drops two

The Bearcats actually played three games on the afternoon, completing a suspended game from March 22 and then competing in an AMC North doubleheader, all at Notre Dame College in South Euclild, OH.

In the first action of the day, the Bearcats and Falcons picked up in the eighth inning, where the game was suspended due to darkness in mid-March at Bearcat Ballfield with the score tied at seven. 

After three scoreless innings, extending play into the eleventh, Notre Dame got on the board, scoring two off of Bearcat righty Kip Watkins.  SVC answered right back, thanks to a lead off walk by Dan Gratchic and then three consecutive singles by Mike Killian, Bill Mulheren, and Cy Haponski.  Gratchic and Killian scored and the game was tied at nine.

In the twelfth, Notre Dame scored twice and the Bearcats were unable to answer.  The final score was 11-9.  Kip Watkins picked up the loss.

In game one of the scheduled doubleheader, Watkins started and pitched extremely well, going six innings and striking out eight, retiring every batter he faced from the third ining on.  He did not receive run support, however, and the Bearcats lost 4-0.

Notre Dame starter Matt Kidd went all seven, striking out ten Bearcats and allowing just three hits, two to designated hitter Dan Gratchic.

In the night cap, the Bearcats rebounded and picked up the 13-8 victory.  Right fielder Brad Hill went 2-3 with a homer and four RBIs, and left fielder Russ Daniels went 1-1 with a homer, two walks, and two stolen bases.  The Bearcats took a 7-4 lead into the seventh when they erupted for six runs, taking advantage of five walks issued by Notre Dame pitcher Luke Smerdl.  Jimmy Strayhorne picked up the win for SVC, pitching 6 1/3 and scattering eight hits.

4/14: Bearcats, Shepherd split twinbill

The Saint Vincent Bearcats split a non-conference doubleheader with Shepherd University (WV).  After winning game one by a 5-4 score, the Bearcats failed to hold an early lead and lost the second game, 10-7.

In game one, Kip Watkins doubled home a pair of runs in the second inning to give the Bearcats a 2-1 edge.  With the game tied at 2-2 in the fifth, the Bearcats rallied to score 3 runs.  Brad Hill's single scored Wes Hughes, who had led off with a double.  Josh Morrow singled, moving Hill to third.  Hill scored on a bunt by Dan Gratchic.  Morrow later scored on a wild pitch to give the Bearcats a 5-2 lead.

After starting pitcher Christian Necheff (2-3) yielded his third run of the game in the top of the sixth, Brad Sanders came out of the bullpen and pitched the final two innings, giving up one run but earning the save.

Shepherd outhit Saint Vincent 11-6 in the game, but the Bearcats held the scoring edge.

In game two, Saint Vincent got off to a fast start, scoring five runs in the top of the first, thanks to home runs by Wes Hughes and Dan Gratchic.

Shepherd then rocked Bearcat starter Ben Stoltzfus for five runs in the bottom of the first, which tied the game 5-5.

A Brad Hill 2-run home run in the top of the second gave SVC a 7-5 lead, but once again Shepherd answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

Shepherd managed three runs (two earned) off Bearcat reliever Anthony Fuhrer, who pitkced well over the final five innings but was saddled with the loss (1-2).

Hughes finished the game 4-for-4, lifting his season batting average to .323.  Morrow was 2-for-4, and leads the team with a .394 BA. Hill (.360) also had two hits in the game.

4/13: Juniata defeats Bearcats

The Saint Vincent Bearcats pounded out 12 runs on 12 hits, and benefitted from four Juniata errors, but it wasn't enough.  Juniata won the game 14-12 by banging 19 hits and watching the Bearcats commit six errors.

The Bearcats took a 4-0 lead in the first innings thanks in part to back-to-back home runs by TJ Conroy (a 3-run shot) and Dan Gratchic.  Conroy's blast was one of the longest in recent seasons at Bearcat Park, nearly hitting Alcuin Hall, which lies beyond the left field fence and across the roadway.

However, the Eagles fought back, scoring six runs in the top of the second.  Down 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth, Saint Vincent stormed back, putting up a five-spot in the inning to take a 9-7 advantage.  Mike Killian's 2-run home run was the inning's big hit. 

Juniata once again returned, chasing starter Jimmy Strayhorne and reliever Craig Conforti, who took the loss.  The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the fifth, then two more in the sixth.  In the top of the seventh, Juniata padded their lead with three more (unearned) runs to make it 14-9.

Saint Vincent answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning, two of which came home on a Josh Morrow single.  The Eagles' relieft staff shut down the Bearcats in the 8th and 9th to preserve the win.

Killian and Gratchic each had three hits for the Bearcats, who are now 14-17 after the non-conference loss.

4/12: Waynesburg roughs up Bearcats

The Bearcat pitching was roughed up for 19 hits and the defense committed three errors in a 13-11 non-conference loss at Waynesburg.

The game was back-and-forth throughout, as the Bearcats took an 8-6 lead into the eighth.  The Yellow Jackets, however, scored six runs in the bottom half, breaking the ball game open.  SVC countered with three runs of their own in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough. 

The Bearcat pitching, which has been the team's strongest asset up to this point, struggled in the loss.  Senior Justin Perryman started and went 4 1/3, giving up seven runs on nine hits.  Junior Anthony Fuhrer, who got saddled with the loss, went 2 2/3, giving up five hits and three runs. 

Offensively, left fielder Brad Hill and designated hitter Joe McBroom each went 3-5 with a double, with McBroom tallying two RBIs.  Shortstop Kip Watkins was 2-4 with four RBI's and a stolen base, and second baseman Wes Hughes went 2-4 with a double and an RBI.

The Bearcats now fall to 14-16 overall, and will next be in action on Wednesday afternoon, hosting Juniata. 

4/9: Bearcats sweep PPU at Falconi Field

The Saint Vincent Bearcats rebounded from yesterday's doublheader loss to sweep Point Park by scores of 5-3 and 12-1 in games held at Falconi Field in Washington, PA.

Kip Watkins went the distance in game one and improved his record to 4-3.  He walked one and struck out eight, bringing his conference-leading K total on the season to 56 in 51 innings.

Josh Morrow hit a pair of long doubles, going 2-for-4 on the day.  Brad Hill was also 2-4 and scored twice.  TJ Conroy was 2-3 with a triple.

One of the game's key plays was a hustling effort by Mike Schock, who scored a run on a bunt by Cy Haponski which ignited the Bearcats in the middle innings.  Shock later gunned down a runner to spur the defense.

Game two saw the Bearcats invoke the American Mideast Conference's "10-run rule," as the game was stopped after five innings due to the size of the SVC lead. 

Pitcher Jimmy Strayhorne (4-2) picked up plenty of run support from the Bearcat bats, as SVC sent 12 batters to the plate and scored 8 runs in the third.

Joe McBroom drove in the game-winner in the second inning with a triple that scored Wes Hughes.  Russ Daniels supplied the late runs, hitting a three-run pinch-hit home run that put the Bearcats above the magic 10-run limit.

Saint Vincent is now 14-15 overall, 7-6 in the AMC North Division.  Point Park falls to 7-13, 3-3 in the AMC. 

Saturday's games marked the first-ever live audio webcast of Bearcat baseball, as the games were broadcast on the Red Zone Media Network.  Audio from the DH is now archived at www.redzonemedia.com.

4/8: Bats sputter, Bearcats fall to Point Park

The Bearcat bats were silenced on Friday afternoon, as SVC was swept 3-2 and 3-1 in an American Mideast Conference doubleheader with visiting Point Park.

In game one, SVC first got on the board in the third inning.  Third baseman TJ Conroy doubled to the center field fence, and was driven in by a Dan Gratchic RBI single. 

In the fourth, Conroy and Gratchic walked, and right fielder Cy Haponski hit what looked to be a routine double-play ball to the shortstop.  Conroy, who was running on the pitch, rounded third as Pioneer shortsop Tony Kostelnik fed second baseman Dan Pomposelli for the turn.  A hard slide by Gratchic disrupted the attempted double play, however, and Haponski reached first safely while Conroy crossed the plate.

It was the last of the offense, however, as Pioneer righty Brandon Keck held the Bearcat bats at bay, allowing just four hits.  Ryan King earned the save.

Bearcat righty Christian Necheff went 6 1/3 innings for the Bearcats and took the loss.  He gave up three runs, eight hits, and struck three Pioneers out.  Conroy, Haponski, Gratchic, and Mike Schock had the four Bearcat hits.

The second game was more of the same for SVC, as Pioneer lefty Nick Grabski pitched a complete game five-hitter.

Justin Perryman continued his dominance for the Bearcats on the mound, giving up just three runs and four hits, but was handed his first loss of the season.

In the fifth inning, it appeared as if the Bearcat offense was about to erupt.  Joe McBroom, pinch running for catcher Abe Weimer, was on second and shortstop Kip Watkins on first after an error by Kostelnik.  Haponski hit a hard line drive right at second baseman Pomposelli, who flipped the ball to Kostelnik at short for the double play, and then he threw out Watkins at first for the rare triple play.

The Bearcats scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh.  McBroom walked to start the inning, and Watkins singled down the third base line.  Haponski drove in McBroom with a bloop single over second base. 

In the night cap, Haponski was 2-4, rightfielder Brad Hill 1-2 with a double, first baseman Josh Morrow 1-2, and Watkins 1-3.

4/5: Watkins, Conroy lead SVC to DH sweep

Behind a strong performance by Kip Watkins (photo), and heriocs at the plate by TJ Conroy, the Saint Vincent Bearcats extended their winning streak to seven games, defeating Seton Hill University in both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader in Latrobe. 

Watkins (3-3) hit two batters and yielded a run in the first inning of game one, but settled down quickly and recorded 10 strikeouts in the Bearcats' 7-1 victory.

Mike Killian and TJ Conroy led the offense.  Killian was 2-for-3 including a two-run double that broke the game open in the sixth inning.  Conroy was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.  Brad Hill also supplied a pair of hits and scored twice. 

In game two, pitching again kept the Bearcats in the game until the bats came alive.  Jimmy Strayhorne (3-2) went the distance and gave up just three runs, and the Bearcats earned a come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

Wes Hughes singled home Watkins to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, then Conroy hit a solo home run to lead off the Bearcat sixth and put Saint Vincent ahead to stay. 

Strayhorne yielded a two-out triple in the seventh, but managed to get a ground out to end the game and raise the Bearcat record to 12-13 overall, 5-4 in the American Mideast Conference North Division.  Seton Hill falls to 1-5 in the AMC, 11-13 overall. 

4/1: Bearcats sweep Seton Hill

The Bearcats extended their win streak to five games with a doubleheader victory against conference foe Seton Hill University on the road on Friday afternoon.

The final scores were 4-2 and 2-1, with the second game going an extra inning.

Kip Watkins was the star of game one, going the distance to earn the victory.  He equalled his own school record for strikeouts in a 7-inning contest by fanning 11 Griffins.  Watkins scattered six hits and did not walk a batter.

Mike Killian and Brad Hill led the offense, each posting a pair of hits and one RBI each.  Dan Gratchic was 1-for-3.

According to Coach Mick Janosko, "Kip had a great game for us, then Justin Perryman threw an outstanding game as well, and our defense was good all day."

Perryman was forced to take a no-decision in the second game, but worked the first six innings and yielded just one run on four hits.  Jimmy Strayhorne came on in the seventh and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Mike Schock was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then advanced to second on a ground out by Hill.  That set the stage for the game-winning, two-strike single by Josh Morrow. 

Still, the Bearcats weren't able to celebrate until Hill's diving catch ended the game, giving Strayhorne the victory on the mound.

Schock was 1-for-2, but reached base three times to lead the offense.  Gratchic was 1-for-2 with an RBI.  Abe Weimer and Wes Hughes each went 1-for-3.

3/31: Necheff, Fuhrer lead SVC to wins

Thanks to good pitching and timely hitting, the Bearcats swept a home doubleheader against Grove City College.

Christian Necheff pitched five strong innings to earn the victory on the hill in Saint Vincent's 7-2 game one victory.  After giving up a run in the first inning, Necheff settled in, working five innings for the win.  Ben Stoltzfus pitched two scoreless innings in relief.  T.J. Conroy was 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI to lead the offense.  Brad Hill was also 3-for-4 with three singles, while Joe McBroom and Mike Schock each had a pair of hits.

In game two, it was more of the same, as Anthony Fuhrer threw six scoreless innings in the 8-2 Bearcat victory.  Fuhrer gave up just three hits.

Josh Morrow was 3-for-3 including a 2-run home run.  Conroy also put one over the fence and was 2-3 with a pair of RBIs.  Schock was 2-for-2 with a double and a run batted in, while Dan Gratchic was 2-3 with an RBI and Kip Watkins was 1-2 with a double.

3/30: Bearcats win big

The bats came alive on Tuesday afternoon, as the Bearcats pounded out 16 hits while defeating the visiting Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 12-3.

SVC got on the board in the second when back-to-back doubles by Wes Hughes (Connellsville, PA) and Kip Watkins (Auburn, WA) drove in Josh Morrow (Homer City, PA) and Dan Gratchic (Connesllville, PA), who both singled to lead off the inning.

Centerfielder Mike Schock (Latrobe, PA) was hit by a pitch to lead off the third for the Bearcats, and left fielder Brad Hill (Cooperstown, NY) singled.  Morrow emptied the bases with a double to the centerfield fence.  Following a Gratchic bunt single, third baseman T.J. Conroy (Monroeville, PA) smacked a three-run home run to left, making the score 8-0.

The Bearcats scored four more times in the bottom of the sixth.  Pinch-hitter Brad Allegre (Bunola, PA) led off with a walk and moved to second on a Hill single.  Morrow then doubled once again, driving in both runs, and scored on a Conroy single. 

Jim Strayhorne (Fairfax, VA) started and pitched well for the Bearcats, going four innings, giving up one run, three hits and striking out three batters.  Justin Perryman (1 IP) and Russ Daniels (2 IP) pitched the final three innings.

Morrow ended the day going 3-4 with four RBIs, Conroy and Hill 2-4, and Gratchic 4-4 for the Bearcats, who improve to 6-13 on the season.

3/22: Bearcats, NDC meet in DH

NDC won the first game by a score of 7-2, as Bearcat Jimmy Strayhorne took the loss on the hill.  Matt Kidd pitched a solid game for the Falcons (7-8, 1-0 AMC North), getting himself out of trouble on repeated occasions.  Saint Vincent outhit Notre Dame 11-7, but failed to put many runs across the plate.

Freshman Wes Hughes, starting at second in place of injured All-American Danny Consuegra, was 3-for-3 to lead the offense. Brad Hill and Josh Morrow each had a pair of hits for the Bearcats (5-13 overall, 1-4 AMC North).

Game two saw the Bearcats trailing 7-3 as they entered the bottom of the seventh inning.  Hill started the inning by reaching on a hit batsman, then moved to third on a Morrow single.  With one out, TJ Conroy singled home Hill to make it 7-4.  Hughes, who had 2 RBI earlier in the game, walked to load the bases, but a strikeout put the Bearcats down to their final out.  Mike Killian drew a walk to make it 7-5, then Cy Haponski doubled home the game-tying runs to send the game to extra innings. 

Bearcat relievers Craig Conforti and Kip Watkins shut down Notre Dame, but the Bearcats were also unable to add a run in extra frames.  With the game still tied 7-7 after 10 innings, the game was suspended due to darkness.

3/19: Bearcats, Walsh split DH

3/17: Bearcats, Walsh open AMC slate

3/16: Bearcats drop home opener

3/6: SVC splits two in West Virginia

The Bearcats managed just two hits -- one each by Russ Daniels and Josh Morrow -- and struck out 12 times.

The bats came alive in game two, as SVC tallied 16 hits en route to a 10-4 victory.

Dan Gratchic's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning broke the game open.  Gratchic was 3-for-4 on the game with two runs scored and 4 RBI in support of winning pitcher Justin Perryman. 

Perryman went 5 1/3 innings and just one of the four runs he gave up was earned.  Ben Stoltzfus came on in relief and shut down WVT over the final 1 2/3 innings.

TJ Conroy was 3-for-3, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs.  Abe Weimer was 2-4 with an RBI, and Daniels was 2-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

2/26: Florida Bearcat wrapup

Saint Vincent wrapped up its Spring Break trip to Florida with a 6-5 loss at the hands of Saginaw Valley State University. 

Danny Consuegra tied the game with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, but SVSU scored the winning run in the top of the 7th off reliever Ben Stoltzfus, who pitched well despite taking the loss in relief of Jimmy Strayhorne.

Mike Schock was three-for-four to lead the offense.  The team returns to Latrobe with a 3-7 record.

A day earlier, Christian Necheff pitched one of the best games in recent Bearcat history, but came away with an extra inning loss.  Necheff had a no-hitter through the scheduled 7 innings, but a scoreless tie forced the game into extra frames.  Necheff kept the no-hitter for 7 1/3 before yielding three runs to Gannon University in the top of the eighth and suffering the 3-0 loss.

SVC was held to just two hits, both by Mike Killian, who had a single and a double.

In game two, the Bearcats rebounded for a 4-1 victory behind a strong pitching performance by Justin Perryman, who gave up 7 hits and walked two.  Kip Watkins came in late and earned the save.

A day earlier, SVC suffered a doubleheader loss to Northwood University.

Russ Daniels took the loss in the first game, which was won by NU, 12-2.  TJ Conroy was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Josh Morrow was 1-2 with a double and an RBI.

In game two, the Bearcats held a 7-2 lead going into the seventh inning, but gave up six runs and lost 8-7.  Jimmy Strayhorne started and went 4 1/3 strong innings, giving up just two runs.  After Ben Stoltzfus gave up four runs in two innings, Brad Hill came in and took the loss. 

Mike Schock was 2-for-5 with a run scored, while Dan Gratchic was 2-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs.

2/22: Bearcats play well, lose to FGCU

The Saint Vincent baseball team suffered a loss on Tuesday night, but it was still a solid effort for the team.

Florida Gulf Coast downed the Bearcats by a score of 3-0, but the end result was much better than last season, when FGCU crushed the Bearcats in a doubleheader by a combined score of 24-2.

Kip Watkins took the loss but pitched well, throwing six innings, giving up 7 hits and just two earned runs.  He struck out two.  Ben Stoltzfus came on in relief and threw two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out three

2/18-20: Bearcats split 4 games in Chowan Tourney

The Bearcats started the season on the right foot, downing the Newport News Apprentice School (VA) by a score of 8-3.  Senior All-American Kip Watkins went the distance on the hill, giving up just three hits. 

Cy Haponski started the SVC season with a single, stole second, advanced to third on an error, then scored on TJ Conroy's double. 

With the Bearcats ahead 2-0 in the fourth, Danny Consuegra tripled home two more runs, then scored on a passed ball.  After giving up a couple of runs in the top of the sixth, SVC scored three more times in the bottom of the inning, led by a Conroy solo home run.

The second game of the day was a disappointment for SVC, as the team was unable to hold a late lead over Western Connecticut State, losing 15-7.  The Bearcats led 7-3 after five innings, but gave up 12 runs in the top of the sixth.

Danny Consuegra took the loss in relief of Jim Strayhorne, who gave up just one earned run in the first 4 1/3 innings.

Josh Morrow was 3-for-4 for the Bearcats, driving in four runs.  Consuegra hit a three-run homer and added a fourth RBI on a bases-loaded walk.

On Saturday, the Bearcats once again failed to hold a late lead, losing to tournament host Chowan College by a score of 7-5.  SVC led 5-2 after five innings but gave up five runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Mike Killian and Russ Daniels each doubled for SVC at the plate.  Craig Conforti took the loss in relief of Christian Necheff.

Junior right-hander Brad Hill, a transfer from Alfred State (NY), guided the Bearcats to victory on Sunday morning against Newport News Apprentice School in the final day of the Chowan Invitational.

Hill threw five innings of the scheduled 9-inning game, and the Bearcats went on to a 12-4 victory.  Justin Perryman and Luke Collard completed the game on the mound.

TJ Conroy was three-for-four at the plate and drove in three runs.  Russ Daniels was 2-3 with two doubles and an RBI.  Cy Haponski was 1-2, scored twice and drove in a run.

Conroy and Haponski were named to the All-Tournament team.  Conroy batted .533 for the week, while Haponski was 4-for-9 (.444).