University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
George Washington
Spartans Comeback Falls Short Against George Washington, 6-5
2/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Five unanswered runs were not enough for the USC Upstate baseball team on Sunday in the final game of the Courtyard by Marriott Baseball Classic, as George Washington posted a 6-5 win to take the tournament title by scoring the first six runs of the game at Harley Park.
The Spartans (2-1) made a furious comeback that started in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring a run thanks to an infield single from junior Eric Guillen (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks), two walks and a balk. In the fifth inning, the Spartans scored three runs, with a one-out walk by freshman Blake Stickley (Monroe, N.C./Weddington) starting the rally. Senior Andrew Maddox (Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs) added a single off the pitcher and senior Michael Colecchi (Oxford, Mass./Quinsigmond, C.C.) added a bunt single to load the bases. A sac fly brought a run home before junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) sent a towering shot over the outstretched arms of the centerfielder for a two-run double.
In the sixth, the Spartans scored another run after junior Tommy Shovlin (Merritt Island, Fla./Daytona Beach C.C.) walked with one out and took third after an infield error before scoring on a sac fly. From there, the Colonial relievers shut down the Spartans, allowing just one hit in the final three innings.
George Washington (3-0) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning, stringing four hits and three walks together. The Colonials added two more runs in the fourth inning, after tournament MVP Charlie Kruer started the rally with a double to left field. Two more hits helped put George Washington ahead, 6-0.
Sophomore Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Stars Mill) led the Spartans with two of their six hits and Morgan added two RBIs.
Tom Zebroski, Charlie Kruer and Curtis Eward each added two hits for the Colonials and Matt Boyd posted three hits in five trips.
Senior Scott Eckard (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary) took the loss for the Spartans, allowing four runs, six hits and five walks in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out six. The bullpen did a fine job for the Spartans allowing just two runs in the final 6 1/3 innings. Freshman Robert Stegbauer (Hillsboro, Ohio/Lynchburg-Clay) and junior Dennis McCraney (Catawba, S.C./Rock Hill) each pitched two scoreless innings.
Bobby Lucas earned the win in relief for George Washington, allowing four runs, three earned and five hits in four innings. Jimmy Duggan struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Three USC Upstate players earned all tournament honors after the Spartans finished second at the classic with a 2-1 record, with Morgan leading the way, posting a .462 batting average and adding two runs and four RBIs in the three games. Tanner hit .375 with a run and an RBI to earn a slot on the team and senior Kyle Bowley (Apopka, Fla./Apopka) also garnered a slot on the team with a .286 average at the plate and a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA on the mound.
In earlier action on Sunday, NJIT took out UT-Martin, 14-4, to finish third during the classic.
The Spartans will get back into action on Tuesday, heading to crosstown rival Wofford for the first road game of Upstate's DI era. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Courtyard by Marriott Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team Kyle Dudley, OF, UT Martin Rob Pietrocola, OF, NJIT Chris Cardone, C/DH, NJIT Kyle Bowley, P/INF, USC Upstate Phillip Morgan, C/1B, USC Upstate Jimmy Tanner, C/DH, USC Upstate Pat Lehman, P, George Washington Sean Rockey, SS, George Washington Tom Zebroski, 2B, George Washington Tournament MVP Charlie Kruer, OF, George Washington
