FORT MYERS, Fla. – It wasn't Irish luck, but a renewed mental approach and good hitting that lifted the Edgewood College baseball team to a St. Patrick's Day doubleheader sweep over Plymouth State University. The Eagles, behind a complete game for starting pitcher Bridger Berrett, won the first game 12-3 and then took the second game 9-2.
Berrett, a junior college transfer from Salt Lake City, made sure Edgewood College (2-4) wouldn't forget his debut. Berrett held the Panthers to no earned runs and six hits in the seven-inning complete game. He was in line to throw a shutout in his debut, but a pair of Eagles errors in the bottom of the seventh led to three unearned runs for Plymouth State (1-5). Berrett struck out two batters on the day.
Meanwhile, the Edgewood College lineup found the offense they had been seeking through the first four games of the season. The Eagles banged out 15 hits in game one, putting up multiple runs in three different innings. Andrew Lauritzen, Danny Appino and Nick Lehner led the Eagles with three hits apiece. Lauritzen had two doubles and two runs batted in, while Lehner also had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs. Appino had two runs batted in and a stolen base to go with his three singles. Brad Clark also stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.
In the second game, the Eagles jumped ahead with two runs in the first inning, and blew the game open with five in the fourth. Lauritzen recorded another pair of doubles to bring his season total to seven through only six games. Appino had went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Freshman catcher Garrett Bogucki had a notable game at the plate and in the field. Bogucki went 2-for-3 with an RBI and also threw out three Panther basestealers.
On the mound, Erick Wendt made his Edgewood College debut, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs on four hits. Steve Gavin finished off the sixth inning for Wendt and AJ Verhage pitched the seventh to close out the game.
Edgewood College will have an off day on Wednesday and a practice day on Thursday before returning to action. The Eagles will face Bethel University in a Friday morning doubleheader at the Lee County PDC.
