Columbia
Central Michigan
Strong Pitching Leads Lions to Win over Central Michigan in Baseball, 3-1
3/5/2011 3:22:00 PM | Baseball
DELAND, Fla. - Columbia received outstanding work on the mound from starter Geoff Whitaker and Stefan Olson notched the save with two scoreless innings as the Lions gained their first win of the season, a 3-1 victory over Central Michigan at the Bright House Invitational.
Central Michigan starter Trent Howard quieted the Columbia bats through the first two innings before Columbia struck for a run in the third.
Alex Godshall singled and then stole second base with one out. Two batters later, Nick Cox came through with a two-out RBI double to score Godshall and give the Lions a 1-0 advantage.
Columbia starter Geoff Whitaker hung up zeroes in the first two innings as well and allowed Central Michigan to scratch out a run in the third to tie the game at 1-1.
Nick Ferraresi connected for his first home run of the season on the first pitch he saw with two outs in the fourth to put the Lion back in front, 2-1.
Columbia took a 3-1 lead when Mike Fischer doubled with one out and advanced to third when Howard uncorked a wild pitch. Cox then drove home his second run of the game with a groundout.
Meanwhile, after the third, Whitaker cruised through seven innings, allowing just the one run on four hits and did not allow a walk in his first start of the season.
Whitaker gave way to Stefan Olson to start the eighth and Olson tossed two shutout innings and struck out the side in the ninth inning to pick up his first collegiate save.
The Lions are back in action on Sunday, March 6 against Illinois in the final day of the Bright House Invitational at Stetson. Game time on Sunday is at noon.
