FORT MYERS, Fla. – On a day when the bats were largely silent, the Edgewood College baseball team was fortunate they had two great pitching performances to lean on. Blake Bieri and Steve Gavin both threw complete games as the Eagles swept Western Connecticut State University 3-0 and 2-1 to improve to 4-0 on the season.
In the opening game, Bieri, a senior, pitched his first career shutout, holding the Colonials to just three hits and only allowing one runner to reach third base. Bieri struck out seven batters and didn't walk any.
Offensively, Nick Lehner went 3-for-4 with a double, and the Eagles utilized small ball to score all three of their runs. Brodie Engel drove home Lehner with a squeeze bunt in the second. Jonathan Roehler laid down a bunt single to plate Bryan Sternig in the third inning, and an error on Western Connecticut State (2-2) following an Alex Fowler sacrifice bunt allowed Callen Gavic to score in the fifth.
Edgewood College (4-0) only managed two hits in the second game, but Gavin's pitching made sure it was enough. The junior from Reedsburg didn't allow an earned run in a five-hit complete game victory. Gavin struck out five batters in the game.
The Eagles scored a run in the first with a leadoff double by Jeff Tucker, a sacrifice bunt from Danny Appino and a sacrifice fly by Roehler for a 1-0 lead. The Colonials tied the game with an unearned run without a hit in the third inning. Edgewood College scored the game's final run in the fourth on Tim Nunn's RBI fielder's choice to bring home Roehler.
The 4-0 start for the Eagles marks the program's best season opening run since the 2004 team started 7-0. Edgewood College will try to extend their winning streak Tuesday with a pair of games against different opponents. The Eagles will open the day with a morning game against Illinois College before playing New York University in the afternoon. Both games tomorrow will have live stats available at EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com/coverage.
