Senior Joe Vladeck picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday afternoon.

Jeffs Split Doubleheader with No. 15 Otterbein

March 21, 2006

FORT MYERS, FL – The Amherst College baseball team split a doubleheader with 15th-ranked Otterbein College in Ft. Myers, Fla. on Tuesday, taking game one, 4-2, before suffering a hard-fought 10-9 loss in game two. The Jeffs moved to 2-3 on the season, while Otterbein moved to 3-4.

Senior Joe Vladeck (Washington, DC) posted an impressive performance on the mound in game one for Amherst, giving up just two runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out five in 6.1 innings of work. Classmate Rob Anderson (Winnetka, IL) picked up the save with just one pitch, forcing Otterbein junior pinch-hitter Jeff Solt to ground into a game-ending double play. Anderson did most of the offensive damage for Amherst as well, knocking home a trio of runs with a double in the bottom half of the first. Rookie Nat Pedley (Rye, NY) plated the Jeffs’ insurance tally in the second inning, stroking a double to score classmate Angus Schaller (Leucadia, CA).

In game two, Amherst jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second as sophomore Josh Card (N. Adams, MA) smacked a two-run single after the first three Jeff batters safely reached base, and Schaller followed with a sacrifice fly to score Anderson. The Cardinals responded in the third, taking four runs back on the strength of two doubles and a home run off Amherst rookie first-time starter Ryan Platzbecker (Westlake, OH), but he was able to leave the game with a lead as the Jeffs tacked on three more tallies in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles from junior Tom Scott (Randolph, NJ) and senior Andrew Green (Lexington, MA) led off the inning and junior Mark Mazzone (Wilmette, IL) followed with a double to score Scott. A sacrifice fly from senior Dave Levinson (Chester Park, PA) sent Green home, and Mazzone crossed the plate on a groundout by senior Zach Schonberger (Rye, NY). The Cardinals took the advantage back, adding a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth, but Amherst battled back in the top of the seventh with a two-out rally to pull ahead 9-8. Sophomore pinch-hitter Neal Allar (Floyds Knobs, IN) keyed the comeback with a two-run single. However, the edge would be short-lived as Anderson failed to pick up his second save of the day.

Amherst returns to action Wednesday at 9 a.m. against non-conference foe Babson College in Fort Myers, Fla.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE