May 17, 2009

Box Score

Rindge, N.H. - Baseball capped off their season this evening in Rindge, N.H. at Franklin Pierce College with a 1-0 loss against Dowling in the NCAA East Region championship game. Both teams battled tough but it was the Golden Lions that snagged the lone run to advance them to the NCAA World Series Tournament. Both teams record at tonight's conclusion stand at 34-16.

Both the Panthers and the Golden Lions had strong pitchers on the mound; Marc Rutledge for Dowling and Keith Couch for Adelphi. Each tosser was on the top of their game as Couch let up just three hits through five while his counterpart lasted one out shy of seven, giving up the same.

It wasn't until the top of the sixth when Dowling got their offense going on a Ralph Tufano single. A hit by pitch and another infield single followed to juice the bases. Couch struck out Colin Barnathan for the first out, and got Daniel Pembroke to fly out for the second out. However, Tufano tagged up and scored on the play. David Wendt popped up to end the inning. The run would prove to be the game winner for the Golden Lions.

Adelphi threatened in the bottom of the seventh sparked by a single by senior Ryan Boelsen who advanced to third on a Chris Weidlein shot to center field. However, this is as far as the Panthers would get as their bats could not get the runners home, leaving two stranded.

Boelsen and Weidlein provided the only hits for Adelphi as Couch, despite a six inning, one run outing took the loss.

The Panthers conclude their season as ECC regular and tournament champions and NCAA East Regional runner up.