It may not have been as long as the Mets-Cardinals 20-inning marathon on Saturday night, but the Fenwick baseball team battled Gordon Tech for 13 innings spread out over two days on Thursday and Friday of last week and emerged with a 6-5 victory.
The Friars (10-5) had a chance to end the prolonged game at the Dominican Priory on Thursday, but missed the opportunity. Tied 5-5 in the 10th inning with no outs, the team couldn’t manufacture a run and the game was eventually called due to darkness.
A new day didn’t initially spark the Friars, as they stranded eight runners before Quinn Collins ripped a hard-hit ball off the glove of Gordon Tech’s third baseman and drove in Chris Gleason for the game-winner.
“This was one of those games that you’re not too pleased with, but at the same time you did get the win,” said Fenwick head coach Dave Hogan. “We left way too many runners on base and should have had this thing wrapped up earlier that we did.”
Three uncharacteristic throwing errors in the fifth inning on the part of the Friars led to three runs.
Tyler Sewall, Kevin Sweeney (3-for-6) and Gleason had three consecutive hits to begin the 13th inning.
Sewall pitched the first six innings of the two-day game, allowing four runs – two earned – on six hits, while striking out seven. Mike Buzzel tossed three innings, yielding one earned run on three hits. He fanned four.
Jack McGann earned the win, allowing one hit while striking out four in four innings of work.
On Saturday, the Friars downed Immaculate Conception 9-3. Gleason (2-2) pitched a gem, yielding just two earned runs on four hits. He struck out seven and allowed just one walk in seven innings. Gleason also went 2-for-3 at the plate as all of Fenwick’s starters had a hit in this game.
Joe Horrigan went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Both Collins and Bob Reither finished 2-for-3. Reither had two RBIs.
The Friars opened up the game in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. A triple by Sweeney, followed by an RBI single by Gleason, kicked-off the scoring. Horrigan doubled home both Collins and Joe Romano.
The two victories came on the heels of an 11-3 loss to Providence where Fenwick lost three balls in the sun, two with two outs in the infield.
“The sun gods were not smiling down on us against Providence,” quipped Hogan. “But we still should have made those catches.”
The Friars were ahead 3-2 when the sun became a factor.
After a trip to St. Ignatius today (Wednesday, April 21), the Friars host De La Salle on Thursday (4:30 p.m.). They travel to Hales Franciscan on Saturday.
