Griesche Pitches Complete Game, but Cannot Tame Leopards

The Newbury College baseball team was swept by the Wentworth Institute of Technology to open the 2010 season Monday afternoon in Orlando, Florida. The Leopards took game one 7-4 and edged out the Nighthawks in the second game of the day, 2-1.

Wentworth scored early with a run in the bottom of the first to take the 1-0 lead. The game would stay that way until the sixth inning when sophomore first baseman Alex Chetelat kept the fourth inning alive with a base hit up the middle. After Michael Dean reached on an error by the Wentworth shortstop, Matthew Clawson lined a single to the right side to plate Chetelat to tie up the score. But the Leopards came back and regain the lead in the bottom of the frame when they put up five runs and knocked starter Matthew Hrasky out of ballgame. 

Sophomore Steven Saia pitched 2.2 innings of solid relief allowing just one run while scattering four hits and striking out two Leopards in the loss. Right fielder Papuga was solid for Wentworth going two for four with two RBIs and a stolen base against Newbury.

The second game of the afternoon was a pitcher’s duel between Papuga and Nighthawk freshman Zach Griesche. Both pitchers went deep into a game that was tied 1-1 until the top of the seventh. Papuga earned his first victory of the season pitching six strong innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out 10 Nighthawks. Griesche went the distance for Newbury, in the loss, giving up two runs – only one earned – on five hits while striking out two for the complete game.

The Nighthawks begin the season at 0-2 while the Leopards improve to 2-2 on the 2010 season.