CHARLESTON, S.C. - Senior third baseman Chris Wychock homered and drove in two runs as the Tigers (1-0) opened its baseball season with a 7-5 victory over Gardner-Webb (0-1) in the opening game of The Citadel Memorial Challenge at Riley Park on Friday afternoon.
Although the Tigers were held to only five base hits by three Gardner-Webb pitchers, they overcame a 5-0 fourth inning deficit to win the season opener for the first time since March 3, 2004.
Trailing by 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tigers took advantage of two Gardner-Webb errors to score three runs and grab a 7-5 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, senior shortstop Nick Natoli (left) started the rally when he drew a one-out walk. Freshman leftfielder Brandon Gonnella reached base on an error by third baseman Emilio Pagan, putting the go-ahead run on base. Junior centerfielder Ben Winter followed with a double to centerfield as Natoli scored the tying run and Gonnella went to third base.
Sophomore righthander Jeff Howell came in to pitch to Wychock with two runners in scoring position. Wychock grounded out to third base as Gonnella scored the go-ahead run. When Winter tried to score all the way from second base, first baseman Dusty Quattlebaum made an error, allowing Winter to score, giving Towson a 7-5 advantage. Austin Harclerode was retired on a fly ball to centerfield, ending the inning.
In the eighth inning, sophomore righthander Mike Volpe pitched out of a big jam. With one out and runners on second and third base, Volpe struck out Adam McFarland and Scott Coleman to end the threat.
Junior righthander Tyler Austin nailed down the victory by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. With one out, Aaron Miller singled and stole second base. But Austin earned his first career save by retiring Jake Watts on a fly ball to centerfield and getting Daniel Merck to pop up to second base.
"They gave us a few breaks and we took advantage of them," said Towson Coach Mike Gottlieb. "We also got some very good efforts from our three pitchers."
Sophomore righthander Michael Trionfo started the game for the Tigers. He pitched the first six innings and allowed five runs on nine hits. He walked one and had one strikeout.
In the second inning, he gave up a two-run double to McFarland, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. In the third inning, Quattlebaum smashed a three-run homer to left field to increase the lead to 5-0.
However, Trionfo settled down after the third inning and shut out the Bulldogs on two hits over the next three innings.
"Mike actually pitched better than it would seem," said Gottlieb. "He just made two or three bad pitches and it cost him. But we were pleased with the way he settled down and pitched into the seventh inning."
After being shut out on one hit through the first three innings, the Tigers cut into their deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Wychock homered to centerfield, making it a 5-1 game.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, senior Steve Rice reached base after being hit by a pitch. With two outs, Natoli drew a walk. Gonnella's double to left field, the first hit of his college career, drove in two runs to make it a 5-3 lead. Winter popped up to end the rally.
In their half of the sixth inning, the Tigers trimmed their deficit to 5-4. Wychock led off the inning by reaching base on a error by Pagan. After he moved to second base on a balk, Harclerode singled to put runners on the corners. Sophomore catcher Andrew Parker's sacrifice fly to left field scored Wychock from third base.
But, Gardner-Webb pitcher Brandon Boling escaped the inning without any further damage by retiring Rice and Fratantuono on infield ground balls.
Volpe earned the win in relief for the Tigers. In two shutout innings, he allowed two hits. He did not walk any batters and had three strikeouts. Austin pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the first save of his career.
Despite allowing 12 hits, Tiger pitchers helped their cause by issuing only one walk in the game.
"Mike Volpe did a very nice job," added Gottlieb. "He threw strikes and he had a very effective curve ball. You can get away with allowing 12 hits if you don't give up any walks."
Quattlebaum led Gardner-Webb with three hits and three RBI's as the Bulldogs outhit the Tigers, 12-5.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against Gardner-Webb and a 3 p.m. contest against The Citadel.
TIGER TALES: Five different players had base hits for the Tigers as Natoli, Gonnella, Winter, Wychock and Harclerode connected safely ... Wychock's solo home run in the fourth inning was the 33rd homer of his college career ... While Gardner-Webb committed three errors, the Tigers played errorless ball.
The last time the Tigers won their season opener was March 3, 2004 when they edged St. Joseph's (Pa.), 4-3 ... Coach Gottlieb used three freshmen in his starting lineup ... Mike Draper, an All-State performer at Mount St. Joseph High School, started at second base and drew a walk ... Gonnella, the New Jersey Player of the Year at Morristown High School, started in left field and had a key two-run double in the fifth inning ... Dominic Fratantuno, an All-Metro selection at Cardinal Gibbons High School last year, was the Tigers' designated hitter in his college debut.
