UMW baseball rides hot streak into home stretch of regular season

By CARTER WALLER

The University of Mary Washington baseball team dominated in a doubleheader at York College of Pennsylvania on Sunday, March 29, winning 4-0 and 3-0. Following the two shutout performances by the baseball team, the pitching staff proved to continue their strong performances as of late.

The team, now holding a 16-5 record overall, won six of their last seven games, supported by a 1.00 ERA over the course of the streak, as errors contributed to seven of the 13 runs allowed.

In the first game of the double-header, junior Ryan Van Assche pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking six and walking one. The game extended his success this season as he now sports a 6-1 record with a 1.59 ERA. Van Assche also leads the team in strikeouts, now with 45 on the season. On Monday, March 30 he was named Capital Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week, as he has now pitched 20 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to March 18 in a victory against Southern Virginia University.

The second game of the doubleheader produced another impressive shutout performance as sophomore pitcher Nick McIntyre went seven innings with five strikeouts, allowing five hits and two walks. McIntyre’s performance on Sunday lowered his ERA to a team-leading 1.11, while also earning his fourth victory on the season. Junior closer Tyler Daig completed his second save of the season, striking out two over the final two innings.

Junior second baseman James Keller was a key contributor in both games against York. Batting leadoff, Keller drove in three runs in the opener and one run in the second game.

In the opener, Keller was three for five, doing most of his damage in the top of the sixth inning. With the base loaded, Keller singled, driving in sophomore right fielder Brian Burns and freshman first baseman David Slupek to give the team a 3-0 cushion in a low-scoring game.

In the seventh inning of the second game, Keller singled to score sophomore outfielder Kyle Bynum from second base to make the score 2-0, once again adding an important cushion to the team’s lead.

On Tuesday, the Eagles took on Christopher Newport University at home in a pivotal CAC tilt. Freshman left-handed pitcher Joe Thompson pitched a strong six and two-thirds innings, allowing just three earned runs while picking up the victory. The Eagles were led offensively by Slupek, who went three for three with two doubles, one that was a sure home run, brought back by the 16 mph winds.

The victories were important for a team in need of in-conference wins, as the team is now 6-5 in CAC play.