MEADVILLE, Pa. - Behind some early offense and a complete game six-hitter from sophomore
Jarod Deagan, the Gators defeated Hiram 5-2 in a North Coast Athletic Conference battle at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
Deagan notched a career-high 11 strikeouts in surrendering just one earned run, while
Tommy Cannon and
Luke Chutko each tallied multi-hit games at the dish, as the Gators (11-14, 5-4 NCAC) moved over the .500 mark in conference play for the first time this season.Â
Deagan was strong from the start, needing just eight pitches to get through a clean top of the first, getting two strikeouts and a pop up. The hosts would then give the righty some early run support with a run in the bottom of the first. With one out,
Cullen Flaherty and Cannon hit back-to-back singles, before
Tyler Wagner laced a hard line drive to center field. The ball was dropped, allowing Flaherty to score from second to make it 1-0.
After Deagan struck out the side in the top of the second, the Gator bats went back to work. Chutko singled to open the frame, before
Vincent Carone was hit by a pitch and
Brandon Pouch drew a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Flaherty brought home Chutko with the Gators' second run of the day, before Cannon's double to the base of the wall in left field plated Carone and Pouch to give the Gators a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Deagan needed just five pitches to retire Hiram in order, but the Terriers would get on the board in the top of the fourth, as Alex Gould opened the inning with a double before scoring on a one-out RBI ground out from Tyler Duben.
Cannon singled and Wagner doubled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but Hiram reliever Justin Joyce was able to minimize the damage, getting a pair of quick ground ball outs, including a comebacker to the mound on which he cut down Cannon at the plate for the second out of the frame. The Gators were able to get one run out of the lengthy inning, however, as Chutko laced a double inside the third base line to plate Wagner with their fifth run of the afternoon.
The early cushion was more than enough for Deagan. After Duben's RBI ground out in the fourth, Deagan retired 12 straight batters, with four strikeouts, until he ran into another spot of trouble in the top of the eighth. With one out, Hiram's Tyler Haas reached on a two-base error, before scoring on a Curtis Caithaml single up the middle. Caithaml was cut down at second trying to extend it to a double for the second out, but the Terriers stayed alive, notching a double and a single to bring the tying run to the plate. Deagan calmly recovered to get an infield popup to end the frame and preserve the three-run lead.
In the ninth, the Terriers managed a one-out single, but Deagan would seal the victory with a strikeout and pop up to wrap up his second career complete game win.
Deagan finished the afternoon with a line of two runs (one earned) on six hits, with 11 strikeouts against just one walk. He needed just 114 pitches to traverse the nine inning game, which lasted just two hours and three minutes.
Offensively, Cannon went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, upping his team-leading batting average to .465. Chutko went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, while Flaherty, Wagner, and
Bret Kelly each added one hit apiece. Â
Alex Perrella started and took the loss for Hiram (4-18, 1-7 NCAC), allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over four innings, with six strikeouts and one walk. Joyce and Kyle Watson each threw two innings of scoreless relief. Gould tallied two of his team's six hits to pace the Hiram offense.
The Gators will now have a quick turnaround, as they are scheduled to return to action on Thur. Apr. 19 with a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Penn State-Behrend.
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