Sep 22, 2008 | Dan Thompson | 409 views
Mitch Clarke Vaults Terriers To Double Header Sweep Of Phoenix College
The Terriers opened their 10 game trip to Arizona with 1-0 and 7-5 victories at Phoenix College.
The 39 degree temperature did not affect lefty ace Mitch Clarke.
He threw a complete game shutout in game one. Mitch scattered just 5 hits, did not walk a batter and was helped out by several defensive gems by SS Joel Stubbs.
The Terriers game winning run came in the top of the 7th. Tanner Nivins tripled to straight away centerfield, then easily scored on a Graeme Carey RBI sac fly.
In game 2, the Mitch Clarke heroics continued, but this time it was with the bat as the DH. Mitch had 3 hits and an RBI in the 7-5 Terriers win. Righthander Tavis Bruce got the start and went 4 innings. He left the game leading 6-5.
The Terriers scored two runs in the top of the first after Nathan Loehle lead the game off with a walk. He advanced to third on a Joel Stubbs single. After Joel stole second base, both he and Nathan scored on a Donovan Latour chopper up the middle. 2-0 Terriers after a half inning. Text book baseball was responsible for the Terriers third run. Catcher Kaiden Bowers walked and moved to second on a Mitch Clarke single. Graeme Scott was in next and advanced both runners with a perfect sac bunt. Loehle then hit a fly ball to centerfield for the RBI. Unfortunately the Terriers did not hold the lead long. The Phoenix Bears cashed 4 runs in the bottom of the second when they scattered three hits and were helped by some shabby Terrier defense. 4-3 Bears after just two innings of play. The lead would not last long however as the scrappy Terriers knotted the game at fours after a Tanner Nivins walk and an RBI double down the left field line by Graeme Carey.
After the Bears took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth, the Terriers would bounce back again in the fifth. This time with two runs, to give them a 6-5 lead. This time they would not relinquish the lead. A Kevin Nickel walk and hits by Mitch Clarke and Kaiden Bowers would be the keys to the two running inning. Kaiden had two RBIs on the day. Lefty Billy Ralston came on and pitched three strong innings to close out the game. He did not allow a hit and walked only one. Like game one, once again Joel Stubbs made several outstanding plays at shortstop, frustrating the Bears hitters. The Terriers would tack on another run in the top of the seventh to wrap up the 7-5 win.
Next up, a double header Tuesday at Chandler Gilbert CC.