VERO BEACH, Fl- Looking to bounce back from a difficult start to their Spring Training trip, the Greater Allegheny baseball team (2-3) earned their first win in the Sunshine State after they split two games with Clark State and Rochester College. GA surrendered three, sixth-inning runs in a 7-4 loss to Clark State, before holding on through a power outage to defeat Rochester, 7-6.
Sophomore outfielders Zach Zeroski (Imperial, PA/West Allegheny) and Oliver Girman (Monroeville, PA/Serra Catholic) each had two hits- Zeroski's both doubles- in the game one loss, as sophomores Sam Weightman (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford) and Adam Wehr (Orefield, PA/Northwestern Lehigh), along with freshman Luke Koshinsky (Plum, PA/Plum), all recored an RBI. Freshman left-hander Zach Krivda (McKeesport, PA/McKeesport) started the game for Greater Allegheny on the mound, and gave up three runs and seven hits through four innings of work. Krivda also struck out three, in earning the no-decision.
In game two against Rochester, GA found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first two and a half innings. Senior second baseman Jason Paris (Houston, PA/Chartiers Houston) led off the bottom of the third with a single to center field, setting up a string of six straight hits, including a bases-clearing double from Girman. Wehr then singled home Girman, and with GA scratching across two more runs following, put up a six-spot to take a 6-2 lead.
Rochester fought back with a run in the fifth off junior right-hander Evan James (Harrison City, PA/Western Oklahoma State), and then added two more in the sixth to cut the Greater Allegheny lead to 6-5.
Looking for some insurance in the home half of the sixth, junior outfielder Mike Visloski (McDonald, PA/West Allegheny) reached via an error, then advanced to second when Girman followed with a walk. A passed ball initially advanced Visloski to third, before a throwing error by the Rochester catcher allowed him to score, extending the lead to 7-5.
Girman entered in the seventh looking to close the door on the victory, and quickly struck out the first batter he faced. He then issued a walk and allowed a base hit, before getting an important second out by way of a line out to first. An RBI singled followed, placing the tying run at third base. Girman survived the jam, as a tough groundout to third sealed the 7-6 win.
Zeroski and Koshinsky each had two hits, as Girman drove in three runs and then earned a save on the mound. James (1-0) struck out five batters over his five innings of duty, while giving up three runs on eight hits.
Greater Allegheny takes the day off Tuesday before battling Rochester again on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
