March 21, 2006

Box Score

MARCH 21, 2006 - Junior Bobby McKee (Massapequa, NY) had three hits and a pair of RBI and earned the save on the mount, while junior hurler Chris Howard (Ghent, NY) allowed just one earned run over eight innings to lead the Sacred Heart University baseball team to a 4-2 win over Army on Tuesday afternoon.

Army, 8-9, jumped on Howard for a pair of runs in the top of the third inning when sophomore Caleb Love, who led off the inning being hit by a pitch, scored on a wild pitch. The other run was scored by Jeremy Stache on an error by the shortstop. The Pioneers, 3-12, got one back in the bottom of the fourth on a squeeze bunt by Jason Maiella (N. Haledon, NJ) that scored that scored Josh Enos (Paulsboro, NJ) who had singled with one out.

Sacred Heart chased Army starter Drew Clothier in the fifth, scoring three times. Tony Diaz (Middletown, NY) led off the inning with a single to center. The Pioneers had two one with no one out when Jamie Morales hit a ball to short and Diaz was safe at second on an error. Dan Pluff came out of the bullpen for the Black Knights and got an out at third on a failed sacrifice attempt. Rob Tencza (Meriden, CT) hit a ground rule double to right center to plate one run, and McKee tripled to drive in the next two.

In the ninth, Army got a leadoff infield hit by Love off reliever Brad Trangucci (Bronxville, NY). Trangucci then hit Kyle Scoggin with the next pitch to put two on. McKee came on in relief for the Pioneers and the Black Knights executed a double steal on a one-one count to put runners on second and third. Love scored on a ball hit to third by Andrew Ernestothat was booted for an error. McKee retired the next two batters on pop outs and then got Cole White to fly out to center to end the game.

Howard raised his record to 1-3 with the win. He struck out nine and walked three while throwing 128 pitches in his outing. The win was the second straight for the Pioneers.