__Tribe 16, GW 1__
p. After a frustrating weekend during which the Tribe split a very winnable doubleheader against Georgia State University, the College demolished George Washington University 16-1 in the squad’s most dominating victory of the year.
p. Sophomore pitcher Cody Winslow supplied five innings of one-run ball from the mound to earn the win as the Tribe easily dismantled an overmatched George Washington side.
p. “I told the guys after the game I thought it was one of our most complete efforts this season,” Head Coach Frank Leoni said. “I think everybody made a contribution, which was encouraging when you use quite a few guys.”
p. Winslow initially struggled, leaving several pitches up in the strike zone, while allowing a pair of first-inning singles as the Colonials took an early one-run lead. Senior leftfielder Greg Maliniak answered in the bottom half of the frame, taking a 3-1 pitch the opposite way over the right field fence for a grand slam to give the Tribe a comfortable 4-1 advantage.
p. The blast supplied all the run support Winslow needed. After allowing a second-inning single, the sophomore hit his stride, retiring the last 10 batters he faced to hold George Washington to a meager three singles over five innings. From that point on, relievers junior Jeremy Neustifter, sophomore Kevin Landry, freshman Logan Billbrough and sophomore Tyler Truxell teamed to continue the hitless streak, combining to yield only a pair of walks as each tossed a scoreless, hitless inning.
p. “All our pitchers did a great job, especially Cody,” senior catcher Tim Park said. “He struggled the first inning but afterwards he threw strikes and that’s what we really need to let our offense do the job.”
p. The Tribe’s pitching performance was bolstered by a superb defensive effort. Senior shortstop Lanny Stanfield and freshman second baseman Derrick Osteen teamed up to provide great range in the infield, thwarting several would-be base hits.
p. “That’s been our strongest point, whether it’s Lanny, Derrick or [junior infielder James Williamson], they all make unbelievable plays up the middle and really help our pitchers out,” Park said.
Junior first baseman Mike Sheridan tallied three doubles in three at-bats while Maliniak knocked in five RBIs. Every starter recorded at least one hit, as the Tribe put up 16 runs, and seven in the eighth inning.
p. The victory improves the College’s record to 21-11 overall, and 10-7 in CAA play. Despite their third-place CAA standing, the squad remains wary of a late-season slump, making sure to take each game singularly down the stretch.
p. “Last year we were 10-7 in the CAA and got a little too ahead of ourselves,” Park said. “We were looking more at the CAA tournament and not at the next series so we really have to take it one game at a time. We have to continue hitting the ball, playing good defense and, if we do those things, everything will end up [well].”
