Baseball Opens PLNU Spring Classic With Win
March 5, 2007

Complete Box Score

A five-run seventh made it a successful first day of the PLNU Spring Classic for Cougar baseball, as the squad defeated Dakota Wesleyan by a score of 6-2.

After a rocky start to the season, the Cougar pitching staff appears to be settling in quite nicely. On Monday, it was junior David Julio giving the Cougars a terrific start. Julio went six quality innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing just 2 runs. His 6 strikeouts are the single-game high for any Cougar pitcher this season.

Once Julio bowed out of the game, the bullpen went to work. Lefty Eric Julienne entered the game in the 7th and dominated the Dakota Wesleyan lineup, striking out 5 of the 7 batters he faced. He did not allow a hit. Lance McCormick pitched a perfect ninth to secure the victory.

The lefty/right relief duo of Julienne and McCormick has proven effective in recent games. Combined, they've held opponents scoreless over the last 9 2/3 innings they've pitched.

Monday's game was tightly-contested for the first six innings before the Cougars pulled away. Dakota Wesleyan was the first to get on the board, as a Josh Oltmans third inning double gave them a one run lead.

The Cougars answered in the top of the 4th, as Austin Way took the initiative in tying the game off starter Freddy Janssen. With two outs and nobody on, Way was hit by a pitch. He promptly stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Way would reach the plate on an error to tie the game at 1.

A leadoff homer would give Dakota Wesleyan a 2-1 lead in the 5th, but Julio would hold them scoreless through the sixth. The Cougars were able to out-last Janssen, who exited with two outs and two on in the seventh. CSUSM immediately capitalized. Tristan Gale tied the game at 2 with a single up the middle, then Scott Shapiro knocked in a pair with a big double to left. Way layed down a surprise bunt to keep the inning alive, and Terry Moritz drove in Shapiro with a single. Way would score the final run of the inning, and the game, on a throwing error by the catcher.

CSUSM is now a very solid 5-4 in its last 9 games. The squad will try to keep the momentum rolling tomorrow, when it continues play in the PLNU Spring Classic.