Columbia
Florida Gulf Coast
Slutsky Tosses Seven Outstanding Innings, Lions Pull Ahead Late for 3-1 Win over Florida Gulf Coast
3/16/2011 9:27:00 PM | Baseball
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In his first start of the season, Harrison Slutsky tossed seven terrific innings and Columbia received some clutch hitting in the eighth inning as Alex Godshall provided the go-ahead base hit in a 3-1 victory for the Lions over Florida Gulf Coast at Swanson Stadium. The win is the fourth straight for Columbia on its spring break trip.
Slutsky did not allow a base hit over the first four innings, allowing the Lions to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Godshall led off with a sharp single back through the middle and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Fischer.
With one out, Nick Cox drew a four-pitch walk and Jon Eisen, who was robbed of an extra-base hit in his previous at-bat, ripped a run-scoring single into center field to put Columbia on the board.
Brandon Bednar led off the fifth with a bloop single the other way into right field, the first of the game against Slutsky. After Bednar moved up to second on a groundout, Slutsky fanned Sean Dwyer for the second out and got Jake Foley on a groundout to end the inning with Columbia ahead 1-0.
In the sixth, Columbia loaded the bases for the second straight inning on three consecutive walks allowed by reliever Brendan Bixler. The Eagles then summoned right-hander Harrison Cooney into the game and Cooney quickly escaped the jam with a strikeout and a double-play ball to keep the game at 1-0.
Florida Gulf Coast regained momentum and tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth on a run-scoring double by Zach Maxfield. But Slutsky stranded Maxfield at second base on a strikeout and a groundout to keep the game at 1-1.
Slutsky ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh as the Eagles loaded the bases on a single, hit by pitch and a walk. With two outs, Slutsky faced Mikel Alvarez, the Eagles' number-two hitter. Alvarez drove one deep into the gap in left center field but Nick Cox sprinted from right center to make the running catch and the game remained tied at 1-1.
Momentum swung Columbia's way and the Lions took the lead with a two-run eighth inning. Nick Ferraresi and Jason Banos each singled to start the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Ferrera.
Godshall stepped in to face left-hander Andrew Swain, who had been feeding the Lions a steady diet of breaking balls. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Godshall stroked a run-scoring single the other way, past the drawn-in infield as Ferraresi scored the go-ahead run.
Mike Fischer followed by lofting a fly ball into right field and Banos tagged up at third. Right fielder Javi Sujo's throw arrived at the plate as Banos slid his right leg just between the legs of catcher Tim Roberson and the Lions took a 3-1 lead on a big insurance run.
Eric Williams tossed the final two innings for Columbia, earning the first save of his collegiate career.
Slutsky earned the win, his first of the season while Swain got tagged with his first loss of the season.
Ferraresi, Banos and Godshall each had two hits in the game for Columbia. No Florida Gulf Coast batter had more than one hit as the Eagles were held to just four base hits.
Columbia will travel north to Winter Park, Fla. to meet Rollins on Thursday, March 17 for a 6 p.m. game.
NOTES:
Columbia drew eight bases on balls ... the Lions outhit their opponent for the fifth consecutive game ... Columbia has won all four games when it has faced a left-handed starting pitcher ... in his first two at-bats, Jon Eisen drove the ball deep down the left field line and each time, Florida Gulf Coast left fieder Sean Dwyer made a terrific running catch ... the Lions totaled seven stolen bases in the two-game series and were caught just once, at home plate on a potential double steal ... the game was played in terrific weather again, 82 degrees under sunny skies in Fort Myers.
