Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Sophomore Kevin Langhauser (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) went 5-for-8, freshman Chris Simard (Lexington, Mass./Belmont Hill) was 3-for-5 with four runs scored, and sophomore Mike Backus (Piscataway, N.J./Immaculata) went 3-for-6 with six RBIs as the Gettysburg College baseball team picked up its third and fourth straight Centennial Conference wins to open the season, sweeping a doubleheader at Washington (Md.) College Saturday afternoon.
Gettysburg won the opener 7-2, then captured the nightcap 8-2.
Sophomore Michael Sweeney (Bethesda, Md./St. Anselm's Abbey School) fired a seven-inning complete game in the opener before junior Chris Liegel (Oak Ridge, N.J./Pope John XXIII) tossed the first seven innings to pick up the win in Game Two.
In the opener, Gettysburg (12-11, 4-0 CC) got a run in the top of the first on a single through the left side by Backus that plated Simard. Washington (5-8, 1-3 CC) responded with a run in the bottom of the first when Matt Boucher doubled down the left field line to plate James Tidwell. The Bullets took the lead for good in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Backus that plated senior Sean McGee (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Bullets took a 3-1 lead when Langhauser singled to right field driving in Simard from second base.
Gettysburg broke open the game with a five-run seventh inning, all coming after two outs. Backus highlighted the inning with a two-run double down the right field line that knocked in two runners. The Shoremen got one in the bottom of the seventh, when Joe Coveney scored Tidwell on a groundout.
Sweeney (1-0) scattered nine hits in going the distance. He walked two and struck out one while earning his first collegiate victory after coming away with a no-decision in his previous four starts. Chris Smith (2-3) suffered the loss for Washington, yielding all eight runs on 12 hits.
Langhauser went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the victory for the Bullets. Backus, Simard and junior Scott Vladyka (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) each had two hits with Backus driving in four runs. For Washington, Tidwell went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Doug Lutz and Boucher had two hits each. Catcher Rob Rifkin caught two Bullets attempting to steal.
In the nightcap, the Bullets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Backus plated Simard on an RBI single through the right side. The Shoremen responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to grab a 2-1 lead on a two-out, two-run single by Greg Perret that knocked in Coveney and Boucher.
Gettysburg evened the game at 2-2 in the top of the third with a two-out single by senior Dave Olson (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) that drove in Backus. The guests took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth with another two-out hit off the bat of senior Matt Stillitano (Ewing, N.J./The Hun School of Princeton) that scored Langhauser.
In the top of the sixth Gettysburg tacked on two runs with back-to-back two out walks to make it 5-2. The Bulllets added another run in the top of the eighth when McGee scored on a wild pitch to give the visitors a 6-2 cushion. In the top of the ninth, Vladyka made it 7-2 on a sacrifice fly that chased junior Andrew Burton (McLean, Va./McLean) home.
Liegel (2-2) surrendered eight hits and two runs in seven innings of work before freshman Matt Karis (Southborough, Mass./Noble & Greenough School) tossed two scoreless innings of relief for the second day in a row. He yielded a leadoff single in the eighth, but retired six in a row to end the game, starting with a 6-3 double play on a line drive. He struck out two.
For Washington, Chris Keiper (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings.
For the Bullets in game two, Langhauser went 2-for-4 while Backus and Stillitano each had a pair of RBIs. Olson finished 2-for-5 in Game Two. For the Shoremen, Boucher and Coveney each had two hits and a run scored while Perret drove in both of his team's runs.
Gettysburg returns to Centennial Conference action on Tuesday, when it visits McDaniel College at 3:30 p.m.
