BUTLER, Pa. – Allegheny opened the 2015 North Coast Athletic Conference slate by splitting a doubleheader with Wooster, falling 3-2 in eight innings in the opener before rebounding with a 4-2 win in the nightcap at historic Pullman Park.

In the opener, Gator starter Chase Boyer went seven strong innings on the mound, but the Allegheny offense stranded nine runners on base while Wooster scored the eventual game-winner in the top of the eighth.  In the nightcap, junior Joe Killian had a pair of run-scoring doubles, while freshman Jameson Murray earned his first career save, as Allegheny snapped its three-game losing skid.

After the 1-1 day, the Gators move to 7-6 (1-1 NCAC) on the season, while Wooster ends the day 12-2 (1-1).

The Gator offense got off to a fast start in the opener, plating the game's first run in the bottom of the first.   With two outs, Zach Gray connected on an opposite field double to left field, and promptly scored on Killian's first hit of the afternoon.

Boyer started strong on the mound, retiring the first six Fighting Scots in order, before running into a hiccup in the top of the fourth.  After Wooster's Kevin Hagen opened the inning with a triple to the right field corner, it appeared as if Boyer was able to get the next hitter, Kenny Reckart,  on a routine grounder to third base, with Hagen staying put 90 feet from home.  However, Reckart was granted first base on a catcher's interference call, plating Hagen to tie the game.  A sacrifice bunt followed by a single then brought home Reckart to give Wooster a 2-1 lead.

Allegheny quickly countered in the bottom of the third, as Adam Bronson drew a one out walk, moved to second on Gray's second double of the day, and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-all.

The score remained tied for the next several innings, as both teams missed several opportunities to plate a go-ahead run.  In the top of the fifth, Shick preserved the tie by making a diving catch in the hole at short, and then doubling off a Wooster runner for the inning-ending twin killing.  In the bottom of the sixth, Killian walked and Shick singled to lead off the frame, with each moving up 90 feet on a Ben Murray sacrifice bunt, but both remained stranded.

Wooster again looked to rally in the top of the seventh.  After the leadoff man opened the frame by getting hit by a pitch, Bronson cut him down at second on the stolen base attempt.  With two outs, Boyer gave up a single and hit another batter, but escaped the jam by getting an inning-ending strikeout.  The Gators then looked for walk-off heroics in the bottom of the seventh, with Bronson singling and advancing to second on a stolen base, but an inning-ending strikeout ended the scoring threat.

The Scots scored the eventual game-winner with one down in the top of the eighth inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks and a Gator fielding error.  The damage could have been worse, but Allegheny reliever Cory Keenan left the bases loaded after getting a pop up and strikeout to escape.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Gators tried for one last rally, as Killian and Murray each walked to put runners at first and second with one out.  A bunt by Andrew Dawson moved both runners up 90 feet, but Wooster closer Michael Whittaker recorded the final out on a fly ball to end the game.

The Gators out-hit Wooster 6-5 in the loss, with Shick and Gray recording two hits apiece.  Boyer worked seven innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on just four hits, while striking out five in the no-decision.   

In the nightcap, the Gators again took an early lead with a big first inning.  After Robert DiMaggio and Bronson were hit by pitches to begin the frame, Killian connected for a hustling double to left field to score both runners and put Allegheny in front 2-0.

The middle of the order again came together to help the Gators add on to their lead in the bottom of the third.  With two outs, Gray walked, and was brought home on Killian's second double in as many at bats to make the score 3-0.  Shick promptly followed with a single to right center to plate Killian with the Gators' fourth run.

Wooster cut into the Gator lead in the top of the fifth, sending eight men to the plate and scoring two runs on three hits and two walks to make it 4-2.  The damage could have been worse, but Murray, on in relief of starter Steven Ramsdell, stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout and pop up to maintain te two-run lead.

The game then turned into another pitcher's duel, with each team managing just one base runner the rest of the way to allow the 4-2 margin to stand up.  In just his third career appearance, Murray shut the door on the Fighting Scots, working 2 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits with three strikeouts to earn his first save.

Ramsdell threw the first 4 1/3 and earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts.  The two hits apiece from Killian and Shick were all that the Gators would manage in the nightcap, but they proved to be enough as the Gators earned the split.

Allegheny and Wooster will now close out the four game series on Monday, as they will face off in another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.