JV: Schatzel Slows Sherman

It must look like we're partial to pitchers. But when they put on a show, they deserve the press. Schatzel entered the game in the top of the first with the bases loaded, no outs, and a run home. He induced an in-field fly, and struck out the next two, without allowing any of his inherited runners to score. He scattered three hits and two walks over the next 4.2 innings, while collecting eight total strikeouts on the evening. With Bearcats on the corners and two outs in the top of the sixth, he yielded the mound to Koenigsman, who threw two pitches to close the game - getting the batter on a brilliant 6-3 put-out to end the game.

The Eagles tied the game at one in the bottom of the first on Samuel's scamper home followng a wild-pitch. Samuel had led off the game, reaching on an HBP; was balked to second and had taken third on a wild pitch. During the third inning, Allen grabbed a 2-1 lead, again with Samuel scoring. Samuel had singled a 2-2 pitch with one out and stole second before Cooper's single to left brought him home.

Having yielded the lead over the course of the next two innings, Allen entered the bottom of the fifth, trailing by one. Baldwin led off with a walk and stole second before Majors walked. Delaney's SAC bunt moved the runners to second and third. With two outs, Baldwin and Majors were off and running when Cooper singled to left, driving both home. Allen led, 4-3, going to the top of the sixth.

Sherman led off the sixth with the Schatzel's seventh strikeout. The second hitter singled to left center and moved to third on two wild pitches. Schatzel recorded his final strikeout against the Sherman lead-off hitter before walking the last batter he would face, to put men at the corners. A double switch was called, as Koenigsman came in to pitch from right and Reams entered for Schatzel, taking over in right for Koenigsman. Koenigsman fired the first pitch in for a strike. With an 0-1 count, the Sherman 3-hole hitter cracked a shot to short. Delaney gobbled up the ball and launched a missle to first. It was the third close play at first this game and the only one that went Allen's way.

Ironically, Delaney and Koenigsman had been called out at first on similar plays earlier in the ballgame. But this one went Allen's way and a 4-3 win was in the books.