Tartans get Dominated in Florida
By BENNET OTTO POEPPING
March 15, 2011
The Tartans headed down to Florida with 10.5 players and came back with 9.5, barely enough to complete their final two games of the trip.
4 games were played.
Game 1:
Bad loss to Xavier
The entire team seemed dead and unprepared for the game, and it showed in the final boxscore, with the first of three run-rule decisions. This was definitely a game the full Tartan team could easily have won.
Game 2:
Close loss to Michigan Tech
With at least one game under their belt, the Tartans fared slightly better against Michigan Tech. Bennet Poepping threw fire, but it was wild-fire, as he walked 12 while striking out 11. The game came down to the bottom of the last inning with the bases loaded and two outs, with the Tartans up one. The Michigan Tech batter hit a blooper to shallow left. Outfielder Kyle Woltersdorf charged, but in doing so pulled his hamstring and was only able to trap the ball. Kyle was subsequently out for the second double header. This was another team the Tartans should have beaten, had they had their full arsenal.
Game 3:
Bad loss to Ferris State
In his second try at a start Brendan MacNabb just didn't have his stuff. Last semester he pitched fairly well, but the hot Florida sun was too much for his Boston-Irish skin. Joe Seymour came in relief and pitched very well, striking out two batters per inning like clockwork. After such a poor start to the game, the Tartan bats were essentially silent all day. On a normal day this should have been a good game.
Game 4:
Bad loss to Bowling Green (Ohio)
Juan Infante pitched well despite letting up many hits, he did not beat himself by only walking one batter. This loss was largely due to poor defense and non-existent hitting. With our full team this would have been a closer game, but Bowling Green was a very good team.
In conclusion: DBAB
The Tartans open up in Pittsburgh on March 26-27 with two double headers.