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Printer-Friendly ModePitchers lead Cards to strong Florida record
March 19, 2007 —
Young pitchers turned out to be assets for the Cardinals in Florida as the team finished its annual spring break trip with a 7-3 record.
Freshman Andrew Doyle picked up two wins down south, one against Coker College and the other against Mansfield University (Pa.). The lefthander pitched 15.2 innings and struck out 20 batters with a 1.72 ERA.
The game against Coker was close with tight defense being played by both sides, with four of the nine innings being hitless. Doyle went the distance, striking out 10 batters and allowing just four hits as the Cards won the game 2-1.
The Mansfield game got a little exciting towards the end, when the Mountaineers scored five runs at the top of the seventh. The Cards held them off at the end to win the game 9-6.
Redshirt freshman Scott Haase earned his first career win during the Cardinals' first game against St. Cloud State, an 8-3 victory on March 6. Haase pitched six innings, allowing five hits and two runs. Freshman T.J. Swanson picked up the win in the second game against St. Cloud, a 5-1 Cardinals win. Swanson allowed six hits and struck out four in six innings of one-run ball.
Coach Walt Head has yet to decide on a firm starting lineup and is still "flip-flopping" some players around. Several players who played well in Florida have solidified their spots.
Senior Chris Hanna and junior Brandon Fanion both performed well at their positions. Having just recently returned to pitching, Fanion started against Saint Rose College March 8 and pitched seven innings of two-hit, two-run ball and earned himself the fourth pitching slot in the rotation.
Head was unsure about who to put at third base before spring break, but senior Tom Seehafer was given the spot after his performance in Florida. Seehafer was fourth on the team with a .360 average and second with a .600 slugging percentage.
Adding to the success that his fellow freshman players had at the mound, Charlie Thomas' performance in the outfield moved him up to either a starting position or one as the fourth outfielder. Thomas started five games and appeared in another, batting .533 with a team-high .667 slugging percentage.
Fanion was second on the team with a .452 average and led the Cards with 10 RBIs. Hanna, the speedy leadoff hitter, led the team with six stolen bases.
Head said he felt his team's performance in Florida was decent, but could have been better.
"We should have been better," he said. "I wanted to be 9-1."
Yet Head said he won't dwell on the team's record. He said the team needs to focus on the GLIAC season and be aware that every game counts, especially since he wants to finish in the top four of the league. While Ashland, Grand Valley State, Wayne State, and Mercyhurst may be the teams to beat, Head stressed that other opponents can't be underestimated.
"We can't overlook the Northwoods, the Findlays, those people," he said. "You still got to play them. If you overlook them, you get beat."
Head still expressed high expectations for the rest of the season and seasons to come.
"A few years ago, we were winning championships. We need to get back to that," he said.
After having their doubleheader against Kentucky State rained out on Thursday, the Cards went on to win all three games against Oakland City (Ind.) on Friday and Saturday.
After a game at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, the Cards will begin their GLIAC season with their home opener against Grand Valley State at noon on Saturday.