Davidson College
1-0
George Washington
0-1
Brandt’s Grand Slam, 6 RBI Lead Baseball Past GW in Season Opener
2/15/2013 9:57:00 PM | Baseball
Highlights
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Forrest Brandt hit a grand slam in the seventh inning and a two-RBI double in the eighth to give Davidson the cushion it needed to defeat George Washington, 7-5, in the season opening baseball game for both teams, Friday night at Wilson Field.
Davidson (1-0) trailed George Washington (0-1), 3-1, after surrendering two runs in the top half of the seventh, but facing a full count in the bottom half, Brandt slugged a pitch from LHP Kenny O'Brien (0-1) over the left field fence for his first career grand slam. Brandt came to the plate with the bases loaded again the next inning and singled to center to plate two crucial runs for a 7-3 advantage.
Sophomore RHP Matt Saeta (1) earned the two-inning save, surrendering a two-run home run to right fielder Brandon McCarthy (2-for-4) with two outs in the ninth before striking out the next two batters and inducing a groundout to second base to end the contest.
Many Davidson fans donned fake mustaches in honor of head coach Dick Cooke, who is guiding the Wildcats for a 23rd season. He was seriously injured in a car accident in September.
Brandt finished the game going 2-for-5 with the two clutch hits for six RBI. Leadoff batter Jack McLindon, who missed the 2012 season due to injury, reached base four times, getting hit by a pitch to lead the game off and then going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs. He made two spectacular diving catches on line drives at second base, including an inning-ending catch in the eighth that prevented a run from scoring. Senior third baseman Andrew Barna and freshman designated hitter Lee Miller had three hits each.
Senior RHP Bryan DaCanal (1-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the seventh inning. RHP Clark Beeker held the Colonials to one run until encountering trouble in the seventh. He finished after 6.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, while not issuing any walks and striking out two. RHP Luke Staub allowed one unearned run on six hits and a walk while striking out five in 5.2 innings after starting for GW.
Catcher Xavier Parkmond went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to join McCarthy with a multi-hit game for the Colonials.
Davidson and Geoge Washington will continue the three-game series at Wilson Field Saturday at 2 p.m. RHP Ryan Lowe, who went 2-for-4 starting at first base, is slated to make his first career start for Davidson, while LHP Max Kaplow is scheduled to start for George Washington.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DaCanal, Bryan (1-0)
L: O'BRIEN, Kenny (0-1)
S: Saeta, Matt (1)
Batting:
2B: BEIGHTOL, Owen 1
HR: McCARTHY, Tyler 1
RBI: PARKMOND, Xavier 1 ; McCARTHY, Tyler 2 ; TOWNSEND, Brookes 1
SF: TOWNSEND, Brookes 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BROWN, Derek 1 ; KALMAN, Eric 1 ; PARKMOND, Xavier 2 ; McCARTHY, Tyler 1
SB: BROWN, Derek 1 ; PARKMOND, Xavier 1 ; HICKEY, Ryan 2
HBP: BROWN, Derek 1
Batting:
2B: Miller, Lee 1
HR: Brandt, Forrest 1
RBI: Zeblo, Michael 1 ; Brandt, Forrest 6
SF: Zeblo, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McLindon, Jack 2 ; Zeblo, Michael 1 ; Brandt, Forrest 1 ; Becker, Nathan 1 ; Dyer, Chris 2
SB: Miller, Lee 1 ; Becker, Nathan 1
CS: Barna, Andrew 1
HBP: McLindon, Jack 1 ; Becker, Nathan 1
PO: Miller, Lee 1
