Quakers open season with
win over Clarkson

WC takes 9-8 decision

[Box Score]

March 12, 2006

FORT MYERS, Fla. — While the thunder was rolling across southwest Ohio Sunday, Wilmington College's bats were thundering in Florida as the Quakers opened the baseball season with a 9-8 win over Clarkson University.

For the Quakers, it was the bats early and the right arm of Jamison George late that added up to a win. Taylor Clark (Morrow/McCallie, Tenn.) and Greg Krieger (Bellefontaine) had two hits each in the first two innings as the Quakers roughed up Clarkson starter Shawn Bukowski.

The Quakers took a 7-1 lead when Ben Buehner (Germantown/Valley View) ripped a double that scored two to cap a five-run second inning.

"I knew we would hit," WC head coach Tony Haley said. "We had a good

Greg Krieger

practice when we got down here. They were really anxious. We got to the park early and they were chomping at the bit. We were outside so much this winter on the field, just pounding the ball."

Mike Kroeger (Cincinnati/Elder) slapped a single that scored Mike Cafarella and gave Wilmington what appeared to be a comfortable 8-2 lead after five innings. But Wilmington starting pitcher Kenny Branscom (Chillicothe), who had allowed just two runs over the first five innings, ran into trouble in the sixth. Clarkson (3-2) chased Branscom from the game with an uprising that didn't stop when Matt Meyer (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) came on in relief. The Golden Knights scored six times to knot the score at 8-8.

"Kenny pitched well," Haley said. "Coming into the game, I was hoping he would go six. It was a nine-inning game, so I knew I was going to use three guys. Kenny threw a lot of pitches, and it is really hot down here. I think it just got to him, but he only had the one bad inning."

The Quakers responded, scoring what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth when Clark led off with a walk and scored on Krieger's second double and third hit of the game.

Meyer, who got the win, retired Clarkson in order in the seventh, then went an out deep into the eighth before surrendering a single.

"Matt did exactly what I asked him to do — he got the lead to Jamison," Haley said. "Matt is going to be a set-up man this season. If he does his job like he did it today, we are going to be all right."

George (Mount Sterling/Miami Trace), a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Pitcher-of-the-Week as a freshman last season, doused Clarkson's threat with back-to-back strikeouts, then grounded out two Golden Knights to open the ninth before striking out Matt Holiday to end the game and pick up the save..

"Jamison just mowed them down," Haley said. "We are really blessed to have him at Wilmington. He is truly a good pitcher. He can bring it, plus he has a sharp-breaking curve ball."

The Quakers totaled 13 hits. Including Krieger's three safeties, Clark, Cafarella and Kroeger had two hits each. Buehner drove in three runs while Clark scored three times.

The Quakers will play a twi-night doubleheader against Knox College Monday.