Normoyle Drives In Two In Season Opener

CHESTERTOWN, MD – Visiting Neumann University scored four unearned runs in the top of the 11th inning to break a 3-3 tie en route to a 7-3 win in 11 innings over host Washington College on Saturday afternoon at Athey Baseball Park in non-conference baseball action.  The Knights improve to 2-0, while the Shoremen fall to 0-1.

With one out in the top of the 11th, Bobby Callan reached on a fielding error by the Shoremen.  He would steal second and scored on a triple to right field by Mathieu Vallières that put the Knights up 4-3.  Vallières would score on another fielding error by WC to make it 5-3.  Neumann would tack on two more runs when Kevin Flanigan doubled to right-center and drove in two to make it 7-3.

The first two Shoremen in the bottom of the 11th were retired, but freshman Ian Remington (Guilford, CT/Guilford) kept the inning going with a single up the middle.  The next batter, sophomore Sean Connole (Mt. Airy, MD/St. John's Catholic) walked and then sophomore Tyler Cotterell (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) hit a dribbler down the third base line that stayed in fair territory, as his single loaded the bases and put the tying run at the plate.  However, Neumann pitcher Erik Klimoff struck out junior Ryan Normoyle (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) looking on a full count pitch to end the game.

Neumann scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.  Bill Pace scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bobby McCormick to put the Knights up 1-0 and Joey Armata plated Flanigan on a double to right field to put the guests up 2-0.

Washington responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third to knot the game at 2-2.  Connole and Cotterell both drew walks and Normoyle laced a double to left-center to drive them both in and tie the game.

Neumann scored in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead.  Kevin Hopkins scored on a fielding error by Washington to put Neumann up by one run.  In the bottom half of the eighth, the Shoremen responded with a run of their own to level the game at 3-3.  Junior John Rolewicz (Bear, DE/Salesianum) singled up the middle to lead off the inning and scored on a two-out single down the right field line by freshman Nick Marinelli (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge).

The Shoremen had a golden chance in the bottom of the ninth to win the game as Connole hit a triple to centerfield with one away.  But he would be stranded at third as Cotterell grounded out to second and Normoyle flew out to deep left field.

Flanigan went 3-for-6 at the plate with two RBI to spark the Neumann offense in the victory.  Pace went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and Armata went 2-for-3 with an RBI.  The Knights scored six of their seven runs with two outs.  On the mound, Sean Quigley gets the win as he pitched a scoreless 10th inning and struck out two.  He is 1-0 on the season.

For the Shoremen, Normoyle went 2-for-6 with two RBI, while Marinelli went 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Sophomore Kyle Aldrich (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) took the loss and falls to 0-1.  He allowed five unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings and struck out three.

The Shoremen return to action on Tuesday afternoon against #23 Salisbury at home.  First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.