DOVER, Del. ? For the third consecutive game, Towson University (6-6) was forced to come from behind to win a close game as the Tigers extended their winning streak to four straight games with an 8-7 victory over Delaware State (4-5-1) at windy Soldier Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Tigers, who are now 4-2 in one-run games, had to overcome a shaky defensive performance and a 5-1 deficit to beat the Hornets. Towson came into the game with an impressive .964 team fielding percentage after making only 14 errors in their first 11 games. However, the Tigers were charged with seven errors at Delaware State, leading to five unearned runs.
After overcoming a 5-1 deficit in the fourth inning to take an 8-6 lead in the sixth, the Tigers used senior relief ace Josh Squatrito to nail down the victory. With the Tigers clinging to an 8-7 lead, Squatrito pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season. It was also the 13th save of Squatrito's career, tying the school record set by Brad Stinar (1989-92).
The Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Justin Bittner doubled and scored on a single by Ross Babineaux.
Towson evened the game in the fourth inning when senior first baseman Matt Collins led off with a single and sophomore shortstop Chris Wychock followed with another single. However, Collins was thrown out trying to reach third base as Wychock went to second. With two outs, freshman Ben Winter lined a single to right, driving in Wychock with the tying run.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hornets took advantage of four Tiger errors to score four runs and take a 5-1 lead. In the rally, Delaware State scored four unearned runs on only two hits.
Trailing by 5-1 in the fifth, the Tigers staged a rally to get back in the game. After senior second baseman Gary Helmick led off with a walk, junior centerfielder Kevin Collins blasted a two-run homer to right centerfield, cutting the deficit to 5-3. It was his fourth homer of the season.
Junior third baseman Steve Yarsinsky kept the rally alive with an infield single and he advanced to second base on an infield out. Matt Collins reached base on an error by Delaware State centerfielder Troy Drummond as Yarsinsky advanced to third base. When Wychock grounded out to shortstop, Yarsinsky scored to make it a 5-4 game. Moments later, sophomore Steve Freinberg belted the first home run of his college career, a two-run shot to left field, putting Towson ahead, 6-5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Hornets rallied for a two-out run to tie the game. A double to left centerfield by Mike Rizzuto put the tying run in scoring position and knocked Tiger righthander Jeff Randolph out of the game. He was replaced by freshman righthander Tyler Austin, who struggled with his control at first. After Austin threw a wild pitch to allow Rizzuto to reach third base, he walked Drummond. When Austin threw another wild pitch, Rizzuto scored to make it a 6-6 game. However, Austin pitched out of the jam by retiring Brandon Crist on an infield popup.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers came back to re-take the lead. With one out, Helmick and Kevin Collins drew back-to-back walks. Then, Yarsinsky lined a two-run double to right center field, scoring both runners to give Towson an 8-6 lead. It was Yarsinsky's seventh double of the young season.
After his shaky first inning of relief, Austin shut down the Hornets until two outs in the seventh inning. With a runner on first base and two outs, junior righthander Nate Curd came out of the bullpen to retire the side.
The Hornets cut their deficit to 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning as they scored another unearned run.
Squatrito was summoned to pitch the ninth inning and protect the lead. After allowing a leadoff single by Babineaux, he struck out Rizzuto. Then, he earned the save by getting Drummond to hit into a game-ending double play.
Austin, who allowed no runs on two hits in two innings of work, picked up the first win of his college career in relief of Randolph.
The Tigers, who outhit the Hornets by an 11-9 margin, were led by Helmick, who went 2-for-2 and drew three walks. He scored two runs. Kevin Collins was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI's while Yarsinsky had two hits and also drove in two runs. Wychock, who had a tough game defensively with three errors, also added a pair of hits.
The Tigers will put their four-game winning streak on the line when they open a ten-game home stand with a 3:00 contest against UMBC at John B. Schuerholz Park on Wednesday afternoon.
