The Thomas More College baseball team swept Grove City College today (Tuesday, April 18, 2017) in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) doubleheader at R.J. Behringer Field in Grove City, Pennsylvania. The Saints won game one, 9-0, and the nightcap, 2-1.
With the sweep, the Saints improve to 19-6 overall and 10-3 in the PAC, while the Wolverines fall to 11-15 overall and 8-9 in the PAC.
In the first game of the day, the Saints scored one in the first, one in the second and seven in the sixth and shutout the Wolverines for the 9-0 victory. First-year pitcher Griffin Smallwood (Lakeside Park, Ky./Dixie Heights) earned the win on the mound as he pitched six and a third shutout innings and gave up five hits and struck out two. First-year pitcher Zach Friend (Richmond, Ky./Cooper) pitched two-third innings of relief and didn’t allow a hit, while striking out two.
Thomas More had 12 hits in the game and had five Saints with multiple hits. Junior second baseman Ben Laumann (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was two-for-four with a run scored and two runs batted-in, sophomore first baseman Sean Lawrence (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) was two-for-four with a double, a run scored and three RBI, sophomore shortstop Jacob Whitford (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) was two-for-four with a double and two runs scored, sophomore catcher Sam Hauer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) was two-for-four with a run scored and two RBI and junior designated hitter Tanner Wolfe (Cincinnati, Ohio/New Richmond) was two-for-four with a run scored.
In the nightcap, Thomas More plated a run in the first and second innings and then only gave up one run to Grove City in the sixth inning for the 2-1 win. Sophomore pitcher Ethan Kramer (Sunman, Ind./East Central) earned the win as he pitched five and two-third innings and gave up one run (unearned) on three hits and struck out five. Senior pitcher Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) earned the save as he pitched one and a one-third innings of relief and didn’t allow a hit.
The Saints had three hits in the game as Laumann had a home run, senior center fielder Casey Metzger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) had a double and senior right fielder Ben Kenning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) had a single.
Thomas More is scheduled to return to action on Thursday (April 20) when they host in-state rival Spalding University at 4 p.m. at Thomas More Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
Cory Blackson
Director of Athletic Communications and Compliance
Thomas More College
