UAlbany sweeps doubleheader at Norfolk State
Cregg Scherrer and Ray Weber combine for 17 scoreless innings pitched, allowing six hits and six walks with seven strikeouts in a doubleheader sweep at Norfolk State.
“Two great performances by Cregg Scherrer, the freshman got his first collegiate win, and Ray Weber was dominant, he had a lot of power in his stuff today and was able to throw whatever he wanted in any count,” said Head Coach Jon Mueller. “I’m really proud of the guys on the mound, offensively and defensively. Hopefully tomorrow we take the next step and finish the weekend off the right way.”
Game One
Cregg Scherrer (1-1): 8.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB and 3 K (90 pitches)
Matt Soloman went 1-4 with two RBIs, Brad Malm went 1-3 with one run, one RBI and one walk. The Great Danes scored four of their five runs in the fourth inning
Norfolk State’s Alex Wright (0-2): 8.0 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, 10 K (118 pitches)
Game Two
Ray Weber (1-1): 9.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K (100 pitches). Josh Gurnack went 4-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Dolan Ocasal went 3-4 with two runs and two RBIs
Norfolk State’s Ridge Walker (1-2): 4.1 IP, 8 R (4 ER), 10 H, 2 BB, 1 K (75 pitches)/ The Spartans made seven errors in the game
The University at Albany baseball team visit Norfolk State for its second-straight weekend series against a MEAC opponent. Similar to last weekend’s series, the Great Danes were able to sweep the doubleheader. They won 5-0 and 13-0, respectively, behind stellar starting pitching performances.
UAlbany’s Cregg Scherrer and Norfolk State’s Alex Wright traded three no-hit innings to start game one. A Scherrer walk was the only baserunner allowed until the Great Danes broke through in the fourth inning.
An error-filled inning for the Spartans saw the Great Danes plate four runs on three hits. Jason Bottari led the inning off with a single but was thrown out on a fielder’s choice. After Nick Kondo reached on a throwing error, Dolan Ocasal was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice the next at bat. A muffed throw on an Alex Thul groundball led to Malm and Kondo scoring. After John Daly loaded the bases with a single, freshman Matt Soloman drove in two runs, giving the Great Danes a 4-0 lead.
Between the bottom of the fourth through the seventh inning, Scherrer and Wright remained brilliant, combining to allow just five baserunners and none moved further than second base.
In the top of the eighth, Ocasal led off with a walk and advanced on a wild pitch. After Kondo struck out, Malm hit an RBI single giving UAlbany a 5-0 lead.
The Spartans advanced their first runner of the game past second base in the bottom half. After Scherrer retired the first two batters, a walk followed by a single gave Norfolk State runners at the corners but he escaped the jam with a groundout.
Both starting pitchers were pulled after the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, the Great Danes had runners on second and third with two outs but Bottari field out. In the bottom half, Jamie Silverberg allowed one baserunner and sealed the 5-0 UAlbany victory.
The win was Scherrer’s first collegiate victory. He threw eight scoreless innings allowing three hits and three walks with three strikeouts on 90 pitches.
To start game two, the Great Danes struck early. Bottari led off the game with a single and advanced on an error. After stealing third base, Kondo drove him in with a sacrifice fly, giving UAlbany a 1-0 lead.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, the Great Danes rallied with two outs. Soloman singled for a two-out baserunner and then stole second. Josh Gurnack followed with an infield single and Bottari followed with an RBI single. After Ocasal was hit by a pitch, Kondo hit an RBI single, giving UAlbany a 3-0 lead.
After a scoreless next two innings, the Great Danes added insurance runs in the fifth. Malm let off with a single and Alex Thul drove him in the next at bat. The Great Danes loaded the bases after back-to-back errors and Soloman hit a sacrifice fly. After Daly and Marc Wangenstein stole second and third, respectively, Gurnack drove both runners in with a single.
UAlbany added four more runs on an Ocasal RBI single, followed by two more runs on a Norfolk State throwing error. Malm drove in the inning’s final run on a groundout, giving UAlbany an 11-0 lead.
A leadoff double to start the fifth inning gave Norfolk State its first hit of the afternoon against Ray Weber. They followed with a single and had runners on first and third with no outs. Weber escaped the jam, retiring two runners via pop up and one groundout.
The Great Danes struck once more in the seventh and eighth innings each. After Malm grounded into a double play with two runners on and no outs, Ocasal scored on a wild pitch. In the eighth inning, Ocasal hit an RBI ground-rule double to give UAlbany a 13-0 lead.
Weber held the Spartans scoreless the rest of the way, sealing the 13-0 UAlbany victory and his first career complete game.
Next
UAlbany will look for the series sweep against Norfolk State tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.