After re-scheduling the start time, a rain delay in the bottom of the third, and after playing four innings of baseball last night only to have the game suspended until today the 10th ranked Bulldogs came from behind 1-3 to win the AAC Championship over 14th ranked Union College 5-3. The Bulldogs are now 43-13 overall.
Bulldog pitcher Justin Crowell was the starting pitcher in the championship game. Crowell pitched four innings until the game was suspended because of rain allowing four hits, two walks while striking out six.
In the first inning the Bulldogs had two runners on base when Matt Stanley singled up the middle and Alan Wimmer reached base on a walk but could not cross home plate. In the bottom of the second Gary Tucker singled thru the hole at short but then the game was in a rain delay for an hour. After resuming play Tucker advanced to second on a stolen base and advanced to third on a wild throw but did not score. Union scored three runs in the third on two hits. That would be the only runs that would cross the plate for Union. Brad Pippa homered in the bottom of the fourth on a 1-2 count to give the Bulldogs their first run of the game. Drew Earl was at the plate with a 3-0 count when the game was suspended because of rain until 11:00 a.m. today.
Beginning the game with two outs and Earl at the plate he reached on a walk. The inning ended when Brandon Daggett bunted and was out at first.
With a "new" start and a "new" day, Senior RHP Jon Swartout was now on the mound replacing Crowell. Swartout pitched a complete-game shutout over Milligan College on Monday. Eddie Van Es doubled to left to lead off in the bottom of the sixth. Tucker bunted and reached first on a wild throw and Van Es advanced to third. Pippa doubled to left scoring Van Es. With Bulldog runners on the corners Union made a pitching change. Earl reached base on a walk. Daggett singled to right with the bases loaded and Tucker scored. Stanley hit a sacrifice fly with one out to score Pippa. The Bulldogs took the lead 4-3. After walking a Union batter in the top of the seventh Swartout faced the next three batters forcing two pop-ups and a strike out. The Bulldogs added one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Brandon Munsey hit a solo shot to left on a 2-1 count with two outs. The Bulldog lead was now 5-3 but Union threatened in the top of the nineth on one hit leaving two on base.
Swartout was the winning pitcher going 4 2/3 innings allowing two hits, no runs, three walks while striking out three. Gabe Rios earned the save.
Brandon Munsey was 2-for-5 with a homerun, one RBI and scored one run. Stanley was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, Moyneur was 1-for-4, Van Es 1-for-4 with a double and one run scored, Tucker 1-for-3 with a stolen base, Pippa was 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and scored two runs, Daggett 1-for-4 with one RBI.
