Davidson Opens Season With Victories Over Georgetown and Radford

Saturday, February 23

Davidson, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

Davidson College

Radford

Zach Kayne and the 'Cats host Radford and Georgetown again tomorrow.

Davidson Opens Season With Victories Over Georgetown and Radford

2/23/2008 8:28:00 PM | Baseball

Marc Gignac

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson pitching allowed just six runs in 18 innings, and freshman designated hitter Danny Weiss opened his college career with four hits and five RBIs on the day as the Wildcats posted wins over Radford and Georgetown Saturday at Wilson Field.

Zac Long made his return to the mound for the first time since 2005 and scattered nine hits over five innings while allowing three runs and striking out five in an 8-3 win over Radford. Sophomore Thomas Middour gave up two runs and three hits through five innings in his start, a 10-3 victory over Georgetown.

Weiss finished the day 4-for-7 from the plate with a double and five RBIs. Sophomore Jay Honeycutt went 3-for-7 with a double, a homer and two RBIs.

Junior Chase FitzPatrick went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run to lead the Wildcat offense in the first game of the day.

The top of the order made things happen for the 'Cats in the first inning as Hugh Eden singled, Brett Shore reached on a bunt single and Zach Kayne walked to load the bases. FitzPatrick stroked a two-run double, and Matt Webb followed with a two-run single as Davidson took a 4-0 lead.

The Highlanders came back with two in the top of the third, but Davidson answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Weiss plated a run with a single, and Tommy Piacenza scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to make the margin 6-2.

After Ben Toth got a solo home run in the fourth for Radford, FitzPatrick homered in the home half of the frame, and Honeycutt went deep in the fifth for the final 8-3 margin.

Sophomore Chris Kennedy tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and freshman Mike Frongello struck out two and retired the side in order in the ninth frame.

The Wildcats broke open a 5-3 game with five runs in the bottom of the eighth against Georgetown in the nightcap. Honeycutt led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Weiss drove him in with a one-out single, and Chris FitzPatrick followed with a two-run double.

After a Matt Ray RBI single, Davidson used two consecutive squeeze plays to get two runs and make the margin 10-3. Frongello gave up a hit in the ninth, but that was the only damage the Hoyas would do as the rookie pitched three scoreless innings to record his first career save.

Honeycutt and Weiss each collected two hits in the game, and Weiss had four RBIs.

Davidson returns to action tomorrow as the Wildcats host Georgetown at 11 a.m. and Radford at 2 p.m. at Wilson Field.

Game Notes: Davidson has won its last six season openers… Chase FitzPatrick extended his six-game hit streak to seven with a couple hits in the opener but saw the streak end in the nightcap… Long pitched for the first time since throwing one inning against Furman May 21, 2005… The Wildcats have won five straight against Georgetown and three in a row vs. Radford.