Box Score Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior Ryan Taylor fired a three-hit shutout as the Gettysburg College baseball team defeated Elizabethtown College 3-0 in its home opener Wednesday afternoon at Kirchhoff Field.

Taylor (2-1), who struck out five and did not walk a batter, needed just 80 pitches to earn his third career shutout. He retired the first eight batters and was three singles shy of a perfect game. Taylor induced a 4-6-3 double play in the seventh and faced just two batters over the minimum for the game.

The Bullets (9-4) earned their first win over Elizabethtown (9-4) since a doubleheader sweep in 1998. The Blue Jays had claimed the last three meetings.

Gettysburg provided Taylor all the run support he would need in the first. Sophomore Patrick O'Grady was hit with a pitch leading off, moved to third on a single by classmate Al Posch, and scored when junior Pat Cody lined out for a sacrifice fly to left.

The Bullets added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth on RBI-singles from sophomores Ben Roessle and Alex Freeman.

Taylor, who retired the final eight batters, was the beneficiary of a solid defensive performance, highlighted by a spectacular play from Freeman to end the fourth. On a ground ball into the right side, Freeman ranged into the outfield grass, lunged to his left, and made a spinning throw to get the out at first.

Posch, Cody, sophomore Nate Simon, and freshman Cory Karagjozi all finished with two singles apiece for Gettysburg.

Jake Hoffstein (1-2) worked six innings for Elizabethtown and suffered the loss. He gave up all three runs on nine hits and two walks. Ian Smith finished 2-for-2 for the Blue Jays.

Gettysburg continues its six-game homestand on Friday, when it takes on Penn State-Berks in another non-conference affair starting at 3:30 p.m.