Inclement weather predicted for Sunday, forced the Griffons and Marauders to play a rare triple header Saturday at the Spring Sports Complex. The Griffons shutout the Marauders in the first two games behind the pitching of Brandon Simmons and Ethan Ward. Grant Fink provided the fireworks in game three with his walk-off home run in the ninth to give Western the rare triple header sweep.
Game 1: MWSU 5, UM 0
Western got a strong pitching performance from junior Brandon Simmons as he went all seven innings in the 5-0 shutout victory. Simmons gave up six hits and struckout two Marauders improving to 3-1 on the year.
The Griffons scored two runs in the first and two in the third taking a 4-0 lead. Shawn Egge walked and scored on a Michael Schulze single and then Schulze scored on a while pitch giving Western the 2-0 lead in the first.
In the third the Griffons scored two more when Schulze singled and scored on Nate Ramler single. Later in teh inning David Chew would score on throwing error by Mary’s third baseman.
Western had six hits with Schulze going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Western left five players on base and had two stolen bases.
The University of Mary had six hits with Sam Salveson going 3-for-3. Matt Frank went just 1.1 innings giving up one hit and two earned runs. He falls to 0-1 with the loss. Brad Horan went 2.2 innings giving up four hits and one earned run.
Game: MWSU 4, UM 0
Western was solid on the mound, with Ethan Ward (2-1) picking up the win and Jake Jones earning his second save of the season.
The Griffons got on the board in the third after Shawn Egge reached first on a throwing error that allowed Jake Graham to score. Spencer Shockley’s home run in the fourth put Western up 3-0, and Egge scored the final run in the eighth when Grant Fink grounded out to the shortstop.
Egge was 2-4 with a run scored, Andrew Pieper was 2-3 on two doubles and a run scored and Shockley was 2-3 with 2 RBI.
Game 4: MWSU 3, UM 1 (9 innings)
Grant Fink’s walk-off home run in the ninth ended the Marauders’ hopes of earning their second win of the season.
Andrew Pieper led off the ninth with a walk and advanced to second on Jake Graham’s sacrifice bunt. Then it was Fink’s turn to end it with a shot over the left field wall that completed Western’s rare three-game, one day sweep.
Mary scored first, getting one off of Nik Jurado on a Steve Pletan RBI double. The Griffons answered in their half of the fourth after Andrew Pieper hit his third double of the day, Nate Ramler’s single to left brought Pieper across the plate.
Jurado pitched eight innings, allowing just five hits behind eight strikeouts. Jake Jones (1-1) picked up the win, pitching one inning of relief.
The No. 24 Missouri Southern Lions come to the Spring Sports Complex Friday, March 16 for a four game series over the weekend.
— MWSU Sports Information —