VERO BEACH, Fla. – Junior
Aaron Kirby (Sandy Hook, Conn./St. Joseph) knocked a one-out, two-run double to left field in the bottom of the seventh to propel Gettysburg College to a 13-12 victory in its first outing of 2022 against Monmouth (Ill.) College. The Bullets had to settle for a split on opening day as the Fight Scots won the second game of the doubleheader 12-0.
Game One Summary
| Game 1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Monmouth |
0 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
17 |
2 |
| Gettysburg |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
11 |
3 |
Gettysburg's Top Performers
- Aaron Kirby '23: 2-5, 2B, Run, 3 RBI, 2B
- Matthew Peipher '23 (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township): 3-4, 2B, 2 Runs
- Andrew Decker '22 (Baltimore, Md./Towson): 2-4, Run, RBI, Walk
- Kyle Miller '23 (Montclair, N.J./Montclair): 1-3, 2B, 2 Runs, 4 RBI, Walk
- Ian Gannaway '25 (Westfield, N.J./Westfield): Win (1-0), 2 IP, 2 Hits, 1 Run, 4 Ks
Monmouth's Top Performers
- Justin Bost: 3-5, 2B, 2 Runs, 2 RBI
- Tyler Houck: 2-3, 3 Runs, 2 RBI, HBP
- Jackson Van Iwaarden: 2-3, 2B, 3 Runs, RBI, 2 Walks
Breakdown
- The teams lit up the scoreboard for a combined 10 runs in the second inning. Monmouth took its turn first with five hits leading to four runs. Nate Melvin drove home two with a single to center field to spot the Fighting Scots a 4-0 lead.
- Gettysburg answered right back with its own big inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs on five hits. Peipher led off with a double and came around to score on another two-bagger by junior Preston Toothman (Orland, Fla./William R. Boone). Later in the inning, Miller cleared the bases with a double. Kirby brought home Miller with a single to left and came around to score on an error to put the Bullets in front 6-4.
- Monmouth tallied seven runs over the next three frames to grab an 11-6 lead. Bost scored a pair of runs and tallied two hits, including a two-run double in the fifth.
- The Bullets took advantage of some defensive and pitching miscues in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a single, error, and walk loaded the bases, both Andrew Donlan (Haddam, Conn./Avon Old Farms) and Matt Muir (South Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) were hit by pitches to plate two runs. Miller added a sacrifice fly and Decker brought home another run with a single to put the score at 11-10.
- The teams traded runs in the sixth inning before Gannaway shut the door on the Fighting Scots' day with two strikeouts and a groundout to Decker at first in the top of the seventh. Trailing 12-11, Miller and Decker both drew one-out walks to set the stage for Kirby, who delivered with a smack to left field. Decker raced all the way around the bases to touch home plate for the winning run.
Game Two Summary
| Game 2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Gettysburg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
| Monmouth |
2 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
10 |
1 |
Gettysburg's Top Performers
Monmouth's Top Performers
- A.J. Hatlestad: 7 IP (CG), 5 Hits, 0 Runs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks
- Justin Bost: 3-4, 3 2B, Run, 4 RBI
- Nate Melvin: 1-3, 2B, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, HBP
Breakdown
- Monmouth went on the offensive early with three extra-base hits contributing to four runs in the opening two innings. The Bullets threated to score in the top of the third after loading the bases with two outs, but Hatlestad got senior Shane Manieri (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College) to ground out to first base.
- The Fighting Scots blew the game open with seven runs in the third inning. Eleven batters went to the plate and totaled six hits, including a pair of two-run doubles for Melvin and Bost. Monmouth added an unearned run in the fifth to set the score.
Where the Series Stands
Sunday's contest was just the second meeting all-time between Gettysburg and Monmouth. The Bullets and Fighting Scots dueled for the first time over spring break in 2014. Gettysburg won that first meeting 14-5 and now leads the series 2-1.
Next Up
Gettysburg faces off with Penn State Behrend in a doubleheader on Monday, March 7, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
